Missouri Podiatrist pleads guilty (MO)
A St. Louis, Missouri podiatrist has plead guilty to obstructing a federal audit when she provided the Medicare program with a false and backdated treatment record, U.S. said Thursday.
Bic Chau Stafford, D.P.M., 59, who practices at the Family Foot and Ankle Care Center in Maryland Heights, as well as assorted assisted living facilities in St. Louis County and St. Louis City, plead guilty to one felony count of obstruction of a federal audit. When sentenced Dr. Stafford faces fines of up to $250,000 and maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Prosecutors said that Dr. Stafford allegedly billed Medicare for complex foot surgeries provided to 39 Medicare beneficiaries when she was really providing these patients with only routine foot care, such as toenail clippings
Prosecutors said, in response to a Medicare audit, Dr. Stafford created new treatment records for the 39 patients in 2007 and backdated them to 2004, and claimed that she had provided these patients with podiatric surgery.
Source: St. Louis Business Journal (April 2, 2009)
