Physical therapy is the journey to a pain free life. Today it hurts, tomorrow it works. Fraud on the other hand is journey to only hurt. Not only does fraud hurt the U.S. taxpayer, but in the case of Stephen Timothy Wells, fraud hurt the patient too. Stephen Timothy Wells was the owner and operator of Oahu Spine and Rehab, a physical therapy clinic with locations in Kailua and Aiea, Hawaii. Clinics that claimed to have doctors & therapists from multiple specialties working together to reduce patients pain and restore health. Yet the services that were provided by Well’s clinics were nothing more than those that could be found in a gym.
From July 2013 through early 2020, Wells ordered Oahu Spine and Rehab administrators to submit claims submitted claims to Department of Defense’s Defense Health Agency (DHA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) using the unique provider numbers of doctors, nurses, and physical therapists. Therefore, fraudulently claiming that these professionals had personally provided the physical therapy services to patients. All while the services that were actually provided were done by unlicensed staff members. These unlicensed staff members included massage therapists, athletic trainers, and personal trainers. These supposed physical therapy sessions had even been provided by one individual who had no professional certifications whatsoever. Not only stealing from the U.S. taxpayer, but also endangering patients looking to lead a better quality of life.
On September 27, 2024, Wells pled guilty to TRICARE and Medicare fraud. He is facing up to two years in prison.
Great job by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services who investigated this case.
Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “Physical therapy clinic owner pleads guilty in health care fraud scheme” published by Hawaii News Now on September 27, 2024.
The owner of a physical therapy clinic with two locations on Oahu has pleaded guilty in a health care fraud case. U.S. Attorney Clare Connors announced Friday 41-year-old Stephen Timothy Wells pleaded guilty in federal court to submitting false billings in an attempt to defraud health care benefit programs.
Court documents and information presented showed that Wells owned and operated Oahu Spine and Rehab. There were two locations, one in Aiea and another in Kailua. The scheme played out from July 2013 through early 2020. Prosecutors said he submitted the false bills to TRICARE, a health care program for U.S. military service members and families, along with Medicare.
