Acupuncturist Accused of Insurance Fraud

The owner of a Sherman Oaks acupuncture clinic that catered to the entertainment industry was arraigned on federal charges Monday for allegedly billing insurance companies hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical treatments she did not perform, authorities said.

Miriam Yedvab, 49, a Tarzana resident, has signed a plea agreement and is expected to plead guilty to mail fraud at her next federal court appearance, expected within a week, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Jack Weiss.

Yedvab, who owns and operates Alpha Acupuncture Center Inc. at 14429 Ventura Blvd., is accused of billing for acupuncture services she never performed, Weiss said. She is also accused of billing for treatment based on a doctor’s prescription that the treatments were medically necessary when both she and the doctor knew the doctor had never examined the patients, Weiss said.

Dr. Mordehai Zaray-Mizrahi, 63, a Sherman Oaks physician, pleaded guilty in August to writing the prescriptions. He was sentenced in November to three years’ probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and restitution of $42,500 to John Hancock Insurance, authorities said.

The plea agreement states that the losses to insurance companies are between $200,000 and $350,000.

“Health care is one of our top prosecution priorities and this case should send a message to professionals in the health-care industry that if they defraud insurance companies, they may be prosecuted federally,” Weiss said.

Yedvab faces a maximum prison term of five years and a maximum fine of $250,000 for the crime, Weiss said.

She has also agreed to pay restitution, Weiss said, adding that the amount will be determined by a judge.