By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Two Pakistani nationals have been charged in Chicago with participating in a $10-million scheme to fraudulently bill Medicare and private insurers for nonexistent health care services.

Burhan Mirza, 31, and Kashif Iqbal, 48, are charged with multiple counts of money laundering and health care fraud.

Three alleged co-schemers pleaded guilty to health care fraud and await sentencing.

ILLINOIS, 3 OTHER STATES SUE OVER CDC FUNDING CUTS

Illinois is one of four states suing the federal government over the Office of Management and Budget’s directive to cut more than $600 million in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and attorneys general from California, Colorado and Minnesota said in their complaint that the funding cuts to public health infrastructure would be devastating and are based on disagreements about unrelated topics such as federal immigration enforcement, political protest and clean energy.

EPA OFFERS GRANTS TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Energy is offering $7 million in grant funding to strengthen energy resilience at publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants.

Resilient Energy for Wastewater Infrastructure grants provide funding to assess energy vulnerabilities and implement solar energy systems paired with battery storage.

Individual awards range from $200,000 to $2 million with a match requirement of 25% or 50% based on population served and geographic location.