The sentencing hearing for a Los Angeles doctor, who admitted guilt to issuing fake home healthcare approvals and associated deceptive Medicare billing leading to a minimum loss of $1.44 million to the insurance scheme, has been pushed back to June 12.
Lilit Gagikovna Baltaian, aged 61, admitted guilt in November 2024 to one charge of healthcare fraud in downtown Los Angeles, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to prosecutors, Baltaian ran two medical facilities in Tujunga and Reseda. The documents submitted in Los Angeles federal court indicate that between approximately January 2012 and July 2018, she incorrectly certified patients for home healthcare services provided by at least four local home health organizations.
Baltaian’s invalid certifications were utilized by the home health agencies to dishonestly submit bills to Medicare for unnecessary home healthcare services. According to the DOJ, Baltaian benefited financially from these referrals and also filed claims with Medicare for falsely claiming payment for his signature on fraudulent certifications as well as for patient visits and treatments that were either unneeded or never administered.
She utilized fake certifications to file dishonest claims, causing Medicare to incur a loss of at least $1.44 million, as stated by the DOJ.