February 3, 2012

Federal prosecutors say a southwest Virginia rescue squad and the president of its board have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

The U.S. attorney's office says a federal grand jury in Abingdon handed up the indictment on Thursday against the Saltville Rescue Squad. A rescue squad worker was also named.

According to the indictment, the rescue squad, board president and the worker conspired to fraudulently bill Medicare and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield for non-emergency ambulance services. The indictment alleges the squad was being reimbursed for transporting patients who did not qualify.

The government said the allegedly fraudulent billings totaled more than $2 million.

A phone number for the squad's board president is not listed. A message left at the rescue squad was not returned.