Podiatrist admits submission of fraudulent Medicare Claims (Pennsylvania)
A podiatrist from Scranton, PA, plead guilty to taking between $10,000 and $30,000 in Medicare payments for services he did not provide.
Podiatrist Thomas Rittenhouse, DPM, entered a guilty plea to one count of making a false statement in a health care matter. These charge carry up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
At the plea hearing, the Assistant U.S. Attorney said doctor Rittenhouse had filed claims with Medicare between 2003 and 2008 and was paid for services he never provided to patients. Dr. Rittenhouse is accused of claiming to have performed "nail avulsions", a procedure in which a toenail is removed, but actually just provided routine foot care.
Although the exact amount has not yet been calculated, Dr. Rittenhouse admitted the amount was between $10,000 and $30,000, and in likely the doctor will be required to pay back the amount that he had received through filing the fake claims.
Thomas Rittenhouse, DPM, remains free while awaiting sentencing in Federal Court which is currently set for May 26.
Source: The Times Tribune - 2-18-09
