A Michigan doctor, his nurse practitioner wife, and their office manager have all pleaded guilty to federal health care fraud in a scheme that involved upcharging for services at their Kalamazoo-area women’s clinic, and illegally using medical devices intended for one-time use on multiple patients (Once you hear more about the medical device, you’ll probably be an advocate of this doctor receiving a steep penalty).
Roger Beyer, a urogynecologist, and his wife, Susan Wright, owned and operated Urological Solutions of Michigan and Women’s Health Care Specialists in Kalamazoo. Beyer fraudulently billed Medicare for services provided between 2011 and 2015 — to the tune of $487,000 — for pelvic muscle rehabilitation therapy. While the billed rehabilitation did occur, Beyer billed it under higher and more lucrative billing codes, rather than the standard PMR codes. (Up-charging is a common form of Medicare fraud as practitioners believe it won’t be noticed.)
Beyer also pleaded guilty to charges related to illegally reusing medical devices that were intended for one-time use. Beyer directed his staff to reuse anorectal manometry catheters, meant to run diagnostics and help diagnose, on multiple patients. One nurse reported that she believed a single use rectal sensor was used up to 100 times before finally being replaced. (Could there be any worse device to re-use?)
Beyer faces as much as 13 years in prison and $350,000 in fines.
Wright admitted to knowing of her husband’s wrong doings and pleaded guilty to a misprision charge — a violation of duty — which could result in up to three years in prison, as well as an adulteration charge, which could result in an additional year. (Nothing good ever came of standing by your felonious man.)
The manager of Beyer’s practice, Mark Sabor, pleaded guilty in January to orchestrating and helping conduct this healthcare scheme. He faces as much as 10 years in prison when he is sentenced. (Everyone involved in this fraud got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.)
Medicare users are encouraged to report suspected fraud by calling (1-800-633-4227).
Today’s Fraud of the Day comes from an article, “Kalamazoo-area doctor pleads guilty to Medicare fraud, reusing rectal devices on patients,” posted on WWMT.com on May 15, 2020.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Former Kalamazoo Urogynecologist Dr. Roger Beyer and Susan Wright, his wife, both pleaded guilty to federal charges of health care fraud and reusing medical devices on multiple patients.
Beyer and Wright entered guilty pleas on the felony charges in U.S. District Court of West Michigan May 15, 2020.
