TAMPA MEDICARE ATTORNEY - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• President

Anthony C. Vitale is the president of the law firm bearing his name. The firm was established in 1982 and is recognized as a leader in healthcare law and consultation. The firm is located in Miami, Florida. The firm concentrates on Medicare defense litigation, criminal, civil, regulatory, Qui Tam/Whistleblower, administrative and licensure representation of healthcare providers, including physicians, other licensees, pharmacies, clinics, home health agencies, laboratories, durable medical equipment suppliers, CORF, CMHC/PHP, billing agents, wholesalers and other healthcare providers and suppliers. Mr. Vitale has represented clients under investigation by the Department of Justice, FBI, Office of the Inspector General (DHHS), DEA, Office of the Attorney General Statewide Prosecutor and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Florida Department of Insurance Division of Insurance Fraud and other investigatory bodies. Anthony C. Vitale is widely quoted on health law matters in leading publications including the Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald, Tampa Tribune, Florida Daily Business Review, St. Petersburg Times, and U.S. News and World Report

Job Titles:

• Owner of Encore Health Enrollment Inc

Hoobler is owner of Encore Health Enrollment Inc., which purported to be a marketing company for genetic testing services. She received a percentage of the reimbursement that Medicare paid out for the tests.

Job Titles:

• Director of the of 3 Rd Party Payer Reimbursement, Coding and Documentation Division
• Director, 3rd - Party Payor Reimbursement, Coding and Documentation

Christopher is a nationally recognized expert in healthcare reimbursement, audits, payment suspensions, compliance, coding, documentation, overpayments, and Medicare/Medicaid policy. A much sought-after speaker, Christopher has written numerous articles on matters relating to billing and coding, corporate integrity agreements, the False Claims Act, managed care contracting, and navigating healthcare fraud investigations. He currently serves on the following organizations: Legal Advisory Board of the American Academy of Professional Coders. Physician Services, Auditing and Compliance Committee of the American Academy of Professional Coders. Editorial Advisory Board of Family Practice Coding Advisor. Ethics Committee of the American Academy of Professional Coders. He participated in developing the national certification examinations for the American Society of Health Informatics Managers (AHIM) and the AAPC's Certified Professional Compliance Officer designation. Christopher is a Certified Professional Coder (CPC). CPCs are recognized as the "Gold Standard" for medical billing and coding. He is a Certified Professional Compliance Officer designated by the AAPC. Christopher also holds a certification in Healthcare Compliance by the Health Care Compliance Association of America (HCCA). Christopher works extensively with clients to develop business strategies that address the complexities of the current healthcare environment. He assists in developing compliance policies in accordance with various state/federal settlements following government investigations. He has worked with our clients on some of today's most pressing healthcare concerns relating to billing and coding, healthcare audits, payment disputes, HIPAA, facility license disputes, corporate integrity agreements, and fraud and abuse.

Jason Nielsen, 53, of Scotts Valley, California was charged in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud investors and potential investors in Arrayit, a publicly traded medical technology company.

Job Titles:

• Cardiologist

Cardiologist Dr. Perry Frankel, 64, of Roslyn, New York, was charged in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of more than $1.3 million in claims that were billed during the COVID-19 health emergency in connection with COVID-19 testing. Frankel allegedly caused the submission of claims to Medicare and Medicaid for office visits that were not performed for patients who received COVID-19 tests.

Job Titles:

• Law Clerk / Legal Assistant

Job Titles:

• Paralegal

Lisa Hammell, 39, of Turnersville, New Jersey, an employee of the U.S. Postal Service, was charged in connection with identification documents for her role in creating and distributing to others fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination record cards. Hammell allegedly sold at least 400 fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards to unvaccinated people.

Job Titles:

• Attorney
• Member of the Bar

Louis V. Martinez brings more than 27 years of experience representing clients, including medical professionals and health care providers who have become the target of federal and state administrative. licensure and criminal investigations. He represents small to mid-sized companies (physicians, medical professionals) in licensing matters, as well as in financial and provider disputes versus State of Florida and Florida Department of Public Health. Represent clients in various legal matters, including Federal or State administrative and criminal investigations (health care fraud, mortgage fraud, construction fraud, money laundering, as well as high-profile criminal defense). Prior to establishing his own firm in 2007, Martinez served as Deputy Chief Assistant Attorney General for the Medicaid Fraud Unit in Florida. He also was appointed by U.S. Attorney Marco Jimenez and Alex Acosta as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Martinez managed and oversaw a team of more than 50 attorneys, investigators and support staff in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. Martinez has successfully led jury trials in state and federal court, resulting in the dismissal of cases. He also has negotiated complex plea agreements that have led to a reduction of charges on behalf of his clients. He has briefed and argued motions involving the constitutionality of Florida's Medicaid Fraud Statute and has prosecuted defendants who have been charged with violating Medicaid and Medicaid fraud statutes in state and federal courts. Martinez is a member of the Bar, State of Florida, 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Northern Federal District Court of Florida, Middle District of Florida, and Southern Federal District Court of Florida. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell. Martinez earned his J.D. from DePaul University in Chicago, and his B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University in Chicago.

Job Titles:

• Paralegal

Job Titles:

• Florida Registered Paralegal
• Paralegal / Office Administrator / Legal Assistant

Peter Suarez has spent the last 36 years working as a paralegal and office administrator for the Health Law Offices of Anthony C. Vitale. In his role, Peter has worked side-by-side with the firm's president and attorneys conducting legal research, preparing and filing motions, scheduling depositions, meeting and interviewing clients, and coordinating hearings. Peter also is responsible for overseeing the firm's day-to-day operations and activities including financial planning, budgeting, marketing and hiring. He also handles the firm's relationships with outside vendors. While working at the firm, Peter became a Florida Registered Paralegal, earned his AA in Pre-Law at Miami Dade College and a BA in Business Administration with a double degree in Management and International Business from Florida International University. He is a member of several organizations including the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), National Organization of Legal Assistants - The Paralegal Association, South Florida Paralegal Association and Dade County Bar Association. Peter is experienced with MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Timeslips, Bill4Time, West Law research, Lexis Nexus research, Quick Books and fluent in English and Spanish. He is married to Suzette Marie Suarez and is the father of three girls.

Job Titles:

• Advanced Practice Pharmacist in Ukiah

Ranna Shamiya, 41, a licensed advanced practice pharmacist in Ukiah, California, was charged in connection with an alleged scheme to offer fake cures for COVID-19 and distribute fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards.

Raymond Earl Vallier, 52, of Collierville, Tennessee was charged in connection with a scheme to unlawfully convert CARES Act Provider Relief Fund monies. Vallier was the former owner and operator of a hospice care center, which received $107,568.03 from the Provider Relief Fund nearly a year after it had ceased seeing patients and billing Medicare and Medicaid.

Robert Van Camp, 53, of Parker, Colorado, was charged in connection with an alleged scheme to produce and sell fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards which he sold to buyers and distributors in at least a dozen states. Van Camp allegedly made thousands of dollars from the sales some of which he sold for $175 each.

Ron K. Elfenbein, 47, of Arnold, Maryland, was in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud the United States of more than $1.5 million in claims that were billed in connection with COVID-19 testing. He allegedly instructed employees of Drs ERgent Care to submit claims to Medicare and other insurers for moderate-complexity office visits even though Elfenbein knew that for some or all of the COVID-19 testing patients those visits lasted five minutes or less.