News release from the office of the U. S. Attorney
St. Louis, MO: Dr. David Quang Pham, DPM, has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in connection with false billing to Medicare and Medicaid, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today.
After learning that he was being investigated for health care fraud, Dr. Pham created false treatment notes to reflect services that he had not provided. He then submitted these false treatment notes to agents of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, who had subpoenaed the treatment notes. Dr. Pham, DPM, is a licensed doctor of podiatry and is a participating Medicare and Medicaid provider, who maintains an office at 2506 Pocahontas Avenue, St. Louis, MO.
Dr. Pham submitted false claims and false medical records to Medicare and Missouri HealthNet (Medicaid) for at least 5 years. On a number of occasions, Dr. Pham submitted reimbursement claims for treating the feet of patients, whose feet had been amputated prior to the dates of service. Dr. Pham also falsely claimed he had provided services to patients in the nursing homes where they resided on days when the patients were actually hospitalized and had received no service from Dr. Pham. Dr. Pham also permitted his unqualified assistant to provide services, although she was not a doctor, nurse, or otherwise trained or licensed to provide the service.
Dr. Pham provided services to patients at nursing homes and residences for older adults, including Abbey Care Center, Alexian Court Apartments, Beverly Farm (IL), Claru Deville Nursing Center, Columbia Convalescent Center (IL), Creve Coeur Manor, Delmar Gardens of Chesterfield, Four Fountains Convalescent Center (IL), Grand Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation, Hillside Manor Healthcare and Rehab Center, Normandy Nursing Center, Ozark Manor Residential Care Center, Parkview Apartments, Rancho Manor Health Care and Rehab Center, Rosewood Care Center (IL), St. Paul’s Home (IL), St. Elizabeth Healthcare, The Cedars at JCA, and University Forest Nursing Care Center.
Special Agent in Charge Gary M. Holst of the Kansas City Regional Office of Investigations for the Department of Health and Human Services stated “These investigations and their outcomes protect the tax payers from waste, fraud and abuse. “We will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to defraud the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
Dr. David Quang Pham, DPM, 50, St. Louis, 63144, pled guilty to one felony count of obstruction of a criminal investigation of health care offenses. He appeared before United States District Judge Donald J. Stohr. Sentencing has been set for April 9, 2010.
Obstruction of Criminal Investigation of Health Care Offenses carries a maximum penalty of five years prison and/or fines up to $250,000.
Reap commended the work on the case by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and Assistant United States Attorney Dorothy McMurtry, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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