By: Richard L. Smith
According to a statement released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the owner of an East Orange health center and one of her employees have been indicted on multiple charges related to health care fraud and the alleged illegal practice of medicine.
Authorities announced that Esney Davis-Sharpe, 63, of East Orange, and Nataliya Lushchak, 48, of Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, were charged by a state grand jury with conspiracy to commit health care claims fraud, health care claims fraud, unlicensed practice of medicine, and Medicaid fraud.
The investigation found that Davis-Sharpe owned and operated Bessie Mae Women’s Health Center, a women’s and family health practice in East Orange that offered obstetrics and gynecology, primary care, and family services, despite Davis-Sharpe not being licensed to practice medicine in New Jersey.
Lushchak was allegedly hired as a practitioner in May 2021, even though neither individual was licensed to provide medical services in the state.
Investigators allege that between December 2020 and February 2024, approximately 2,500 Medicaid reimbursement claims were submitted on behalf of the practice.
Those claims allegedly listed licensed physicians without their knowledge or consent for services that were actually performed by unlicensed individuals.
The case was referred to authorities in August 2023 by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs following concerns over unlicensed medical activity.
On January 25, 2024, the New Jersey Department of Health issued a cease-and-desist order, requiring the facility to immediately stop providing services.
The case is being prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.
The charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.