Buffalo Grove Doctor Charged in Biggest Medicare Fraud Bust in U.S. History

A Highland Park doctor with an office in Buffalo Grove was accused of taking kickbacks for referring patients to a north suburban health care agency as part of the nation's largest Medicare fraud crackdown by the feds.

Dr. Yevgeny Odessky, 66, was charged with violating the federal Medicare and Medicaid Anti-Kickback Statute, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office press release Wednesday. If convicted, Odessky could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. His next court date is July 11.

The charges come after federal authorities brought criminal and civil charges against 301 doctors, nurses and health care professionals in 23 states for allegedly participating in Medicare, Medicaid and other health-related scams totaling around $900 million in bogus billings.

Prosecutors claim Odessky funneled patients to a home health care agency in the north suburbs in exchange for cash. The agency's owner, who was working with the government in this case, secretly recorded meetings with Odessky. During a meeting in April of 2014, Odessky is allegedly heard making a deal with the owner to receive $300 for every Medicare beneficiary he refers to the agency.

RELATED: Skokie Doctor Indicted in Historic Medicare Fraud Takedown

"Public Aid will choke," Odessky allegedly says in Russian while laughing.

Odessky wasn't the only individual with area ties who was implicated in the crackdown.

Dr. Zoya Kosman, of Skokie, is accused of lying about a claimant's complaints, symptoms and functional abilities in documents that were part of the claimant's Medicare benefits application. He was charged with making false statements in an application for benefits.

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!

• Get News Alerts, Join Facebook Pages and Learn About Patch
• Learn how to create a Patch user account
• Like our Crime page on Facebook
• Live Traffic and Transit Updates