Medicare Fraud Schemes Include Metro Detroit Physicians
DETROIT (WWJ) - Federal authorities charged several doctors, nurses and physical therapists in Metro Detroit with Medicare fraud Thursday.
WWJ's Stephanie Davis reports that this is part of a nation-wide take down of more than 100 people accused of defrauding millions of dollars from medicare.
U.S. District Attorney Barbara McQuade announced Thursday the list includes 21 Michigan people including doctors, nurses and physical therapists have been charged with allegedly submitting more than $23 million in false claims.
They are accused of submitting false claims and charging for services never rendered.
"Some of the procedures involved were nerve conduction tests, home physical therapy for people who were not home-bound, surgical procedures and psychotherapy," McQuade says.
"It involved billing for medicare services either services which were medically unnecessary or for services or procedures that were never preformed," she said.
FBI Special Agent, Andrew Areanas says one doctor in Troy, allegedly billed medicare $4 million since 2006.
Areanas says the Troy doctor said she treated 47 patients one day, which would have left her having to drive over 454 miles. To actually do everything she said, she would have had to have worked 47 hours that day.
The defendants operated in several cities including Dearborn, Birmingham, Livonia, Oak Park and Troy.
