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LAS VEGAS (AP) — The former manager of an endoscopy clinic linked to a 2007 hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas has pleaded guilty in a federal health care fraud case.
Tonya Rushing pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. She faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing on Sept. 25.
Federal prosecutors say Rushing conspired with former physician and clinic owner Dipak Desai (DEE'-pahk deh-SEYE') to overcharge Medicare, Medicaid and other private insurance companies for anesthesia procedures.
Investigators say the pair pushed employees to squeeze as many patients as possible in a day, then overstate how much time it took to treat them.
Prosecutors say Rushing received about $1.3 million in the billing scheme.
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