Miami “Rock Doc” Arrested on Medicare Fraud Charges

8 Indest-2008-5By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

An osteopathic physician in Miami, Florida, dubbed the “Rock Doc,” was arrested on September 30, 2013. He is charged with twelve (12) counts of health care fraud, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The “Rock Doc” is accused of falsely billing the Medicare program for physical therapy procedures, such as massages and electrical stimulation, which were not necessary. If convicted the doctor faces up to ten (10) years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Click here to read the press release from the DOJ.

In 2010, this osteopathic physician was the feature of a Wall Street Journal article called “Confidentiality Cloaks Medicare Abuse.” The article looked into the billing practices of the “Rock Doc” and many other doctors performing physical therapy and reaping the reimbursements from Medicare.

The physician’s nickname, “Rock Doc,” stems from his appearance of spiked, punk-styled hair, along with accessories of chains, bangles and leather bracelets.

Indictment Accuses Doctor of Spending Reimbursements on Himself.

According to the indictment, the “Rock Doc” is accused of falsely and fraudulently representing that his physical therapy treatments and services were medically necessary and had been provided to Medicare beneficiaries between December 2007 and August 2009. The indictment also alleges that he used the Medicare payments on himself or others.

To read the indictment against the osteopathic “Rock Doc” physician, click here.

Medicare regulations require that physical therapists billing under a physician must have completed an accredited physical-therapy education program. However, in the Wall Street Journal article, the “Rock Doc” said that he trained his “office girls” to do the work because hiring a physical therapist was too expensive.

Wall Street Journal Article Highlighted Physician’s High Medicare Reimbursements.

According to the Wall Street Journal article released in 2010, the “Rock Doc” admitted to receiving more than $2.6 million from Medicare between 2007 and 2009. His gross payments were allegedly more than 24 times the Medicare income of the average family doctor.

In 2009, Medicare administrators caught onto the doctor’s billing activity and began scrutinizing his bills. That increased oversight led him to sell his business.

According to the Miami Herald, the doctor was currently working at a hospital in Larkin County, Florida, when he was arrested.

To read the Miami Herald article, click here.

Fraud Charges Must Be Taken Seriously.

We have been consulted by many individuals, both before and after criminal convictions for fraud or related offenses. There are many times audit investigators must make a judgment on whether overcharges are simply an honest mistake or fraud. In many instances, we are convinced that the person is actually not guilty of fraud. However, in many cases those subject to Medicaid or Medicare fraud audits and investigations refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of the matter or they decide not to spend the money required for a top quality attorney to defend them.

If you are accused of Medicare or Medicaid fraud, realize that you are in the fight of your life. You need to sell everything you own, borrow everything you can and hire the absolute best criminal defense attorney available who has experience in defending such cases to represent you.

If you win and are acquitted, at least you still have a professional license and can start over. However, if you lose, you will most probably be in prison for years. You will lose your license. You will be excluded from Medicare. You will be a convicted felon. You will have nothing and will have no way of starting over successfully. Do not delude yourself. This is extremely serious. Be prepared to give up whatever you have if you can avoid a conviction.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late; Consult with a Health Law Attorney Experienced in Medicare and Medicaid Issues Now.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm represent healthcare providers in Medicare audits, ZPIC audits and RAC audits throughout Florida and across the U.S. They also represent physicians, medical groups, nursing homes, home health agencies, pharmacies, hospitals and other healthcare providers and institutions in Medicare and Medicaid investigations, audits, recovery actions and termination from the Medicare or Medicaid Program.

For more information please visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com or call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001.

Comments?

Do you think that being the subject of the Wall Street Journal article back in 2010, the “Rock Doc” basically alerted the government to his fraudulent billing practices? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.

Sources:

Weaver, Jay. “Miami Beach’s ‘Rock Doc’ Busted on Medicare Fraud Charges.” Miami Herald. (September 30, 2013). From: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/30/3660611/miami-beachs-rock-doc-busted-on.html

Department of Justice. “Miami Physician Indicted in Medicare Fraud Scheme.” Department of Justice. (September 30, 2013). From: http://www.justice.gov/usao/fls/PressReleases/130930-01.html

United States of America vs. Christopher Gregory Wayne. Case Number 13-206912. Indictment. (September 30, 2013). From: http://www.thehealthlawfirm.com/uploads/RockDoc.Indictment.pdf

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

 

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 1996-2012 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Removal of Past Criminal History from Florida Department of Health Practitioner Profile

LOL Blog Label 2By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm and  George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

By statute, the Florida Legislature requires that the Department of Health (DOH) maintain an online practitioner profile for medical doctors, osteopathic physicians (DOs), chiropractors (DCs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and podiatric physicians.

Click here to learn more about these profiles from the DOH’s website.

However, the same law requires those health professionals to immediately update the profile when there is a change and to verify its accuracy.

What Does the Practitioner Profile Contain?

DOH practitioner profiles contain information such as education, disciplinary history, practice address, criminal history, malpractice actions, licensure actions by other jurisdictions, hospital privileging actions, insurance information and other optional information.  These profiles are published on the DOH’s website.  They are freely accessible by the public and are frequently used by employers, medical staff committees, and insurance panels to verify information provided by applicants.

Check Your Personal Profile for Accuracy.

Unfortunately, this information is not always correct.  Oftentimes the information in a profile is outdated or misreported.  The majority of the information in a profile is supposed to be entered through the website by the practitioner personally; however, the DOH is free to add information on its own.

Recently, The Health Law Firm had a client whose employment contract was not renewed due to misreported criminal history information on the DOH practitioner profile.  Most troubling was the fact that this information appeared on the profile suddenly; it had not been on the practitioner profile in the past.  Furthermore, the information was decades old and had been posted in direct violation of a court order sealing the underlying records.

We have also had cases where information was incorrect, where the same information was repeated several times, or where the information on the profile did not meet basic requirements for reporting.

Fight Misreported Information on Your Practitioner Profile.

The Health Law Firm has been successful in having the DOH remove criminal history information and other incorrect information from a practitioner profile.

It is imperative that you check your practitioner profile regularly to ensure that it is accurate with respect to the information that you provided and that may have been provided by the DOH.  If you find that confidential or incorrect information has been posted to your profile, contact an attorney experienced with dealing with these matters immediately.  You never know when your employer, a business associate or potential patient will look up your information on your profile.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced with Department of Health Investigations.

At the Health Law Firm we provide legal services for all health care providers and professionals. This includes physicians, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, Durable Medical Equipment (DME) suppliers, medical students and interns, chiropractors, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes and any other health care provider

Our attorneys provide legal representation in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigations and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Comments?

Do you update and maintain your online practitioner profile? Have you ever noticed any misreported information on your profile? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.

About the Authors: Lance O. Leider is an attorney with The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com  The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Avenue, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714, Phone:  (407) 331-6620.

George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 1996-2012 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

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