Pharmacist sentenced for fraudulent billing

OMAHA, Neb. — Danelle Charf, 49, former owner of Wanek Pharmacy in Neligh and Tilden Pharmacy in Tilden, Nebraska, has been sentenced to two months' imprisonment for making false statements related to health care services. Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced the sentencing on Monday in federal court in Omaha. Chief Judge Robert F. Rossiter presided over the case, emphasizing a lack of parole in the federal system.

Following her release, Charf will enter a three-year term of supervised release and is obligated to pay $573,337.53 in restitution to Medicare and Medicaid.

The investigation into Charf's activities commenced in the fall of 2020 after authorities received a tip. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians employed at Wanek and Tilden Pharmacies alleged that Charf manipulated orders from suppliers, intentionally creating shortages of brand-name medications.

Witnesses supported claims that the pharmacies billed for name-brand drugs while dispensing generic equivalents. Additionally, it was reported that Charf submitted claims for prescriptions the pharmacies anticipated would remain unfilled.

To corroborate these allegations, investigators randomly selected beneficiaries for interviews, discovering instances where patients were prescribed name-brand medications but received generic equivalents. Photographs were taken, depicting medications with name-brand labels affixed to generic drugs.

A thorough invoice review compared claims submitted to Medicare and Medicaid by Wanek and Tilden Pharmacies with actual drug purchases during the same period. Excluding claims to private insurance, the reconciliation revealed discrepancies at Wanek for 1,032 of 3,676 drugs, resulting in a loss of $369,837.38. Similarly, Tilden showed inadequacies for 612 of 1,737 drugs, leading to a loss of $203,500.15.

The case was investigated collaboratively by the HHS Office of Inspector General and the Nebraska Attorney General's Office. The sentencing serves as a warning against fraudulent billing practices, underscoring the commitment to safeguarding the integrity of healthcare services.