CHICAGO—An area dermatologist and a psychologist were charged this week with engaging in separate health care fraud schemes to defraud the Medicare program and/or private health insurers of millions of dollars, federal law enforcement officials announced today. Also today, a co-owner of a former south suburban home health care business was convicted of a federal charge, a week after the other co-owner was convicted of health care fraud by a federal jury.
The Chicago charges are part of a nationwide takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in seven cities, announced today by the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, that led to charges against 91 defendants for their alleged participation in schemes to collectively submit approximately $429.2 million in fraudulent claims.
In Chicago, two defendants were charged in separate indictments filed yesterday and Tuesday in U.S. District Court. One defendant, a licensed psychologist, was charged with health care fraud for allegedly over-billing the Medicare program, while the dermatologist was charged with mail and wire fraud for defrauding Medicare and private health insurance companies.
“Today’s enforcement actions reveal an alarming and unacceptable trend of individuals attempting to exploit federal health care programs to steal billions in taxpayer dollars for personal gain,” said Attorney General Holder. “Such activities not only siphon precious taxpayer resources, drive up health care costs, and jeopardize the strength of the Medicare program—they also disproportionately victimize the most vulnerable members of society, including elderly, disabled, and impoverished Americans.”
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