Oregon AG Rayfield: Medicaid Fraud Enforcement Secures Convictions

• Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced recent Medicaid fraud enforcement actions by the state's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
• Two owners of non-emergency medical transportation companies were convicted for billing Medicaid for services provided to deceased individuals.
• A behavioral health company CEO and the company itself were indicted for allegedly stealing 177 Medicaid client identities and billing for thousands of unprovided sessions.
• The convicted individuals received sentences including probation, community service, restitution, fines, and were barred from participating in Medicaid-funded businesses.
• The cases highlight various forms of fraud, including false claims, identity theft, and billing for services that were never rendered to Oregon Medicaid recipients.

Every dollar stolen from that program is a dollar that never reaches someone who needs it.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield recently announced a series of significant enforcement actions undertaken by the Oregon Department of Justice's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). These actions, part of a broader effort in Oregon AG Rayfield Medicaid fraud enforcement, highlight the state's commitment to combating various forms of healthcare fraud that divert essential resources from vulnerable populations. The cases collectively span grand jury indictments, guilty pleas, and sentencings, addressing serious allegations including billing for services never rendered, the theft of Medicaid recipient and healthcare practitioner identities, and submitting claims for transportation services provided to individuals who were already deceased.

Attorney General Rayfield underscored the severe impact of these fraudulent activities, stating that investigations revealed instances where Medicaid patients' identities were stolen, and providers billed for rides given to people who had already passed away. He emphasized that Medicaid exists to provide care for those who cannot otherwise afford it, and every dollar misappropriated from the program directly deprives someone in need. These recent actions demonstrate the MFCU's proactive stance in protecting the integrity of the state's Medicaid system.

Among the recent enforcement actions are two convictions involving owners of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) companies. Abraham Kindane Kashay, 36, of Portland, owner and driver for Pride Transit, LLC, was investigated by the MFCU following a referral from Trillium Community Health Plan. The investigation found that Kashay submitted claims for transportation services purportedly provided to a deceased individual. On September 3, 2026, he was charged with two Class C felonies for Making a False Claim for Health Care Payment, to which he pleaded guilty on September 10, 2026, after waiving a grand jury indictment. Kashay received 36 months of supervised probation, 150 hours of community service, was ordered to pay $6,420 in restitution and a $5,000 fine, and is now barred from operating any business receiving Medicaid funding.

Similarly, Tedros Gebrezgabhere, 43, also of Portland, owner and driver for Hope Medical Transport LLC, faced charges stemming from a Trillium Community Health Plan referral. The MFCU's investigation revealed that Gebrezgabhere submitted claims for NEMT services allegedly provided to two deceased individuals. Charged on June 9, 2026, with multiple counts of Making a False Claim for Health Care Payment and Theft in the First Degree, he pleaded guilty on September 15, 2026, to one count of each charge after waiving indictment. Gebrezgabhere was sentenced to 36 months of supervised probation, 200 hours of community service, full restitution of $12,695.34, a $5,000 fine, and is also prohibited from operating any Medicaid-funded business. These cases highlight the ongoing efforts against Oregon non-emergency medical transport fraud.

Further demonstrating the breadth of the Oregon Medicaid Fraud Control Unit actions, a significant indictment was announced against Khayre Shine, 28, of Las Vegas, Nevada, CEO of Together Loving Matters LLC (TLM), an Oregon business that claimed to provide mental health services. The MFCU initiated an investigation after a referral from CareOregon, which alleged that TLM billed for services that were never actually provided. Last week, Shine was arraigned following a Multnomah County grand jury indictment on July 20, 2026.

The indictment includes multiple counts of Making a False Claim for Health Care Payments, Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, and Aggravated Identity Theft. Shine and TLM are accused of stealing the identities of 177 Medicaid clients and three Oregon mental health practitioners. These stolen identities were then allegedly used to falsely bill the Oregon Medicaid program for thousands of mental health sessions that never took place, underscoring a serious instance of Oregon behavioral health fraud indictment and Medicaid identity theft Oregon. It is important to note that criminal charges represent allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The recent enforcement actions by the Oregon DOJ's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit underscore a critical message: fraudulent activities against the Medicaid program have direct and detrimental consequences for those who rely on its services. Attorney General Rayfield's strong stance reflects the state's commitment to protecting public funds and ensuring that healthcare resources reach their intended beneficiaries. The types of fraud uncovered, ranging from billing for deceased individuals to large-scale identity theft and false claims for unprovided services, illustrate the varied challenges faced by the system.

In a related development, the Oregon DOJ Medicaid Fraud Control Unit recently briefed both the Senate and House Judiciary Committees on its ongoing work to identify and eliminate healthcare fraud. This legislative engagement highlights the unit's vital role in safeguarding Oregon's most vulnerable residents and reinforces the importance of robust oversight and enforcement to maintain the integrity of the state's healthcare programs.

Compliance officers and legal counsel for Oregon healthcare providers, particularly in non-emergency medical transportation and behavioral health, should review billing practices, identity verification, and internal controls to align with heightened enforcement against false claims and identity theft by the Oregon DOJ's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Source: Reporting based on an announcement from the Oregon Department of Justice.