A woman barred for life from providing services and items through Medicare and Medicaid has been indicted along with her former husband for continuing to participate in, and defrauding, the programs.
In a news release the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver identified the woman as Yelena Stolyar, 49, of Denver and her husband as Leonid Stolyar, also 49.
The couple is accused of conspiring to defraud both the Colorado Medicaid program as well as the Medicare program from August 2001 through October 2009.
According to the indictment, Yelena Stolyar was excluded from participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs for a period of 10 years beginning in December 2001.
The exclusion was the result of a felony conviction associated with the delivery of a health care item or service under the Medicare program. At the same time, Y&L Corporation, which did business as Med Center Supplies, in which both the Stolyars were directors, was excluded from participating in the program.
Yelena Stolyar’s exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid was extended for life in December 2005, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Despite the exclusion and felony conviction, the indictment alleges that the couple created Orthomed Supply Inc. in order to continue the business of Y&L Supply.
The indictment alleged that Yelena Stolyar hid her 50 percent interest in Orthomed, which claimed it provided individuals with ankle supports, knee supports, shoulder supports and incontinence products.
In reality, said the indictment, the couple recruited Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries by providing them with items such as angora sweaters, angora knee warmers, angora stockings, baby diapers and other items not covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
Such items were billed to Medicare and Medicaid as ankle supports, shoulder supports, adult diapers and liners. In addition, said the indictment, the couple sometimes billed for items where no items were ever provided to the beneficiaries.
The couple is accused of conspiracy, health care fraud and 49 counts of money laundering.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
