Golden State Today

Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced a settlement involving the owners of R&B Medical Group, Universal Diagnostic Laboratories, and Southern California Medical Center. The settlement addresses allegations that Dr. Mohammad Rasekhi and his wife, Sheila Busheri, submitted false claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal programs through a kickback scheme and self-referrals between 2014 and 2021. The couple will pay $10 million as part of the settlement, with $4 million going to the State of California and $6 million to the federal government.

"When healthcare professionals exploit the Medi-Cal program, which is intended to help the state's most vulnerable populations, they betray the very principles of the Hippocratic Oath and undermine a program designed to support the elderly, the ill, and those in need," said Attorney General Bonta. "The alleged actions of Dr. Rasekhi not only broke the trust of his patients but also diverted essential resources away from vital healthcare services that benefit the community. My office is dedicated to ensuring that integrity and compassion guide the care provided through the Medi-Cal program. I am grateful for the collaboration of our local, state, and federal partners in this important mission."

Between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2021, Dr. Rasekhi and his wife are accused of knowingly billing government healthcare programs by paying third-party marketers for patient referrals. They allegedly billed these programs through self-referring patients to their own laboratories in violation of Stark Law. Additionally, they are accused of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute by paying kickbacks for referrals.

The California Department of Justice’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA) works to protect Californians by investigating fraud against Medi-Cal as well as elder abuse cases. These settlements rely on coordination among governmental agencies and whistleblowers who report instances of abuse or fraud.

The DMFEA receives 75 percent of its funding from a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant totaling $69,244,976 for Federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining funding comes from California's state budget.

A copy of the settlement agreement is available online.