MACON, Ga. — The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia said Wednesday that a 58-year-old Valdosta doctor has been convicted for defrauding the federal government in a Medicare scheme.
In a release, U.S. Attorney Charles "Charlie" Peeler said the verdict was announced Tuesday after a jury deliberated for about two hours.
Dr. Douglas Moss was found guilty of seven counts -- six counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Peeler said that Moss enlisted a co-conspirator, Shawn Tywon, who was a physician's assistant in Moss' practice. Tywon was indicted and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud charges in April 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2019.
According to Peeler, Tywon testified as a trial witness for the government against Moss.
The U.S. Attorney's release said that, according to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Moss defrauded the government out of more than $2.5 million by falsifying Medicare and Medicaid claims. He billed for services he did not perform or used Tywon to render services to be billed as if Moss, himself, had performed the services, which would have resulted in a higher reimbursement.
“Over a period of four years, Dr. Moss stole in excess of $2.5 million by fraudulently billing the U.S. Government for work he claimed to personally perform at the four nursing homes in Valdosta. The jury’s verdict makes it clear that the citizens of our district will not stand for defrauding the government,” Peeler said.
“The level of greed shown by Dr. Moss, in this case, is astounding, as he lined his pockets at the expense of our government funded healthcare programs,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Just as one example, Dr. Moss claimed to have seen 175 patients on one particular day, falsely billing Medicaid and Medicare for services that were never provided. Actions like this went on for over three years affecting every tax paying citizen, in particular, those who rely on federally funded programs for their health care needs.”
According to Peeler, evidence indicates that Moss routinely did not render services he billed under his name in Valdosta, when he was actually in Las Vegas.
Moss faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both, on each count. He is scheduled for sentencing on August 14, 2019.
MORE |
