Madison County doctor admits he billed Medicare thousands for services he didn’t provide
A Madison County doctor pleaded guilty to a federal healthcare fraud charge for falsely documenting services provided to nursing home patients in order to collect reimbursement from Medicare.
According to court documents, Dr. Phillip J. Greene, 59, of Edwardsville, was employed by General Medicine and working at various nursing home locations throughout the Southern District of Illinois and was an enrolled provider in the federal Medicare program.
The criminal complaint alleged Greene documented services and progress notes for nursing home patients that he did not perform, including claims related to patients who were already dead at the time he supposedly provided service.
In all, Greene submitted false claims to Medicare totaling more than $20,000 from October 2016 through September 2018. He and General Medicine were reimbursed more than $15,000.
“Physicians who submit fraudulent claims in our federal health care programs not only unjustly enrich themselves, but also undermine the trust and confidence of their patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our agency will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who defraud these valuable programs.”
Greene’s sentencing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on June 5. Healthcare fraud is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years’ supervised release. Greene must also pay restitution for government losses.
“We entrust medical professionals to provide ethical care, but some choose to act in bad faith,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I’m thankful to the investigators who uncovered Greene’s fraud and partnered with our office to hold him accountable.”
