Virginia Doctor indicted for fraud along with Ofx reps

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Anonymous said:
Could you please enlighten me as to how one could 'steal' letterhead?

Are you actually saying this podiatrist wasn't lining her pockets and engaged in the dealings?

Orthofix reps are in this stew because of greedy docs as much as anything....
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The Exogen rep in my area was caught by an MA taking clinic letterhead from the supply room. I suspect that the rep is using the letterhead to write up a clinic note.

Was this DPM doing buy and bill?
 
























The DOJ statement was from June of last year. Not trying to sweep this under the rug, are you?
Honestly I'm just curious what happened to the reps and Dr, since both falsified medicare documents and altered notes to get reimbursement from Medicare. And people, its not 'stolen letterhead'. If you actually ready the case and DOJ press release you will find that the Dr. and rep actually changed the office notes together to state that there was a persistent non-union, even when the patients were healing- since they were given the physiostim long before 90 days.
 






Anonymous said:
The DOJ statement was from June of last year. Not trying to sweep this under the rug, are you?
Honestly I'm just curious what happened to the reps and Dr, since both falsified medicare documents and altered notes to get reimbursement from Medicare. And people, its not 'stolen letterhead'. If you actually ready the case and DOJ press release you will find that the Dr. and rep actually changed the office notes together to state that there was a persistent non-union, even when the patients were healing- since they were given the physiostim long before 90 days.
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The doctor got 10yrs and 50 lashes and the rep got 5yrs and 50 lashes. Is that what you wanted to hear?
 






Anonymous said:
The DOJ statement was from June of last year. Not trying to sweep this under the rug, are you?
Honestly I'm just curious what happened to the reps and Dr, since both falsified medicare documents and altered notes to get reimbursement from Medicare. And people, its not 'stolen letterhead'. If you actually ready the case and DOJ press release you will find that the Dr. and rep actually changed the office notes together to state that there was a persistent non-union, even when the patients were healing- since they were given the physiostim long before 90 days.
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What about all the reps who provide loaner units to patients less than 90 days?
 






Dr. was convicted on Jan. 14. To be sentence in April:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/January/TerrellIleneconvictionPR.html



Virginia Doctor Convicted on Perjury Charges in Orthofix Investigation
JANUARY15, 2014

BOSTON – A Virginia doctor was convicted today of making a false declaration to a grand jury regarding her involvement in falsifying patient medical records.

Ilene Terrell, 65, of Fredericksburg, Va. pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to four counts of making a false declaration to a grand jury. Judge Gorton scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2014. Terrell faces a maximum of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each count.

Terrell, a podiatrist, lied to the grand jury about her role in falsifying patient medical records to induce Medicare to pay for claims for Orthofix bone growth stimulator medical devices that did not meet Medicare’s payment guidelines. Bone growth stimulators are externally-worn medical devices that help regenerate bone cells and are used to assist the healing of broken bones. Medicare only pays for a bone growth stimulator if the medical supplier provides records demonstrating that fracture healing has ceased for three or more months. If the bone may heal on its own, Medicare will not pay for a stimulator, which can cost upwards of $4,000.

On numerous occasions, Terrell prescribed a stimulator for a patient where the claim would not have met Medicare’s guidelines. When this occurred, the Orthofix territory manager, Terrell, and an employee at Terrell’s direction often falsified the patient’s medical records, making it appear as though the stimulator was not prescribed until three months had elapsed without healing, when that was untrue and Medicare should not have paid the claim. On some occasions, Terrell prescribed a stimulator for a patient and the patient’s bone healed within the prohibited three-month window. When that occurred, Terrell, an Orthofix representative, and an employee at Terrell’s direction deleted references in chart notes that the patient was using the stimulator and was healing, and they created a new, fictitious note at the end of the 90-day period stating that the bone was still broken and that a stimulator would be ordered. Terrell also created fictitious prescriptions to support the bogus claims.

On May 22, 2012, Terrell testified before the grand jury. She was asked several times if she was aware that patient records had been manipulated. Terrell lied to the grand jury, emphatically denying that she manipulated patient records or that she was even aware that anyone had done so. Terrell lied about other matters as well, including her communications with an Orthofix representative about the government’s investigation. Terrell discussed the government’s investigation at length with the Orthofix representative and instructed him that “you and I have not talked.” She also threatened him, stating: “If you guys take me out you are never going to live to hear the end of it. If I roll on this, I am serious, heads are going to roll, heads are absolutely gonna roll.” In the grand jury, Terrell was asked if she had recently spoken with the Orthofix representative. Terrell lied, stating that she only spoke with him briefly and that the sum total of the conversation was that the representative stated that he did not know what the investigation was about.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Philip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David S. Schumacher and Miranda Hooker of Ortiz’s Health Care Fraud Unit.
 






Wow.
Sounds like the rep got out of trouble by 'playing ball' with the DOJ. To think that Dr could be going to prison for 5 years and paying a million dollar fine for trying to help the Ofx rep for some reason is crazy! Just wow. Why on earth would she have done that? Was the rep a male model?
 






Anonymous said:
Wow.
Sounds like the rep got out of trouble by 'playing ball' with the DOJ. To think that Dr could be going to prison for 5 years and paying a million dollar fine for trying to help the Ofx rep for some reason is crazy! Just wow. Why on earth would she have done that? Was the rep a male model?
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This sounds like a "thread plant" geared towards someone you might not like. Or, you find pleasure. Both are pretty sad. Release the evil intentions and be a builder of men and women. It will bring a smile to your heart Vs a scowl.
 






Actually just trying to figure out why the Dr would risk everything for Ofx. Don't worry, I don't have anything against male models, just a lame joke.

So was the rep actually even fired?? I guess we ma find out after the doc is sentenced
 






Anonymous said:
Actually just trying to figure out why the Dr would risk everything for Ofx. Don't worry, I don't have anything against male models, just a lame joke.

So was the rep actually even fired?? I guess we ma find out after the doc is sentenced
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Obviously the rep had immunity and was compelled to cooperate. Lucky for him/her
 






Anonymous said:
Actually just trying to figure out why the Dr would risk everything for Ofx. Don't worry, I don't have anything against male models, just a lame joke.

So was the rep actually even fired?? I guess we ma find out after the doc is sentenced
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I don't believe the doctor risked everything for the Ofix rep. She probably knew the patient needed a BGS and instead of waiting for 90 day for a non-union she tried to do what was best for the patient and get the stim on the patient ASAP to correct the non-union. For spine you can apply a BGS immediately post op but for Ortho application you have to wait 90 days.

I'm sure at 50-60 days she probably knew the patient needed a stim and did what was best for the patient. You know how many doctors over the yrs twisted chart notes to do what was best for the patient because the guideline were antiquated. She didn't profit from her actions and tried to do what was best for the patient. I surmise the rep had a billy club against his throat by the FED's and he threw the podiatrist under the bus to save his ass. That's how the process works. The FED's are as dirty and filthy as they come.
 






Anonymous said:
I don't believe the doctor risked everything for the Ofix rep. She probably knew the patient needed a BGS and instead of waiting for 90 day for a non-union she tried to do what was best for the patient and get the stim on the patient ASAP to correct the non-union. For spine you can apply a BGS immediately post op but for Ortho application you have to wait 90 days.

I'm sure at 50-60 days she probably knew the patient needed a stim and did what was best for the patient. You know how many doctors over the yrs twisted chart notes to do what was best for the patient because the guideline were antiquated. She didn't profit from her actions and tried to do what was best for the patient. I surmise the rep had a billy club against his throat by the FED's and he threw the podiatrist under the bus to save his ass. That's how the process works. The FED's are as dirty and filthy as they come.
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I do not believe the doctor tried to do what was best for the patient. There had to be some motivation for her to do this. The guidelines have been the same for over 10 years. Most doctors are aware they need to wait 90 days to gave a long bone stim covered. Most Orthofix reps investigated by the DOJ were granted immunity if they told the truth. It sounds like this DPM lied which is why she is going to do jail time. I am sure it was not her idea to create chart notes to get the stim covered but it was the reps.
 






The doc was getting greased and the reps you're trying to vilify exclusively were just doing their jobs and adhering to corp policy as instructed by Orthofix management.
 






Anonymous said:
I do not believe the doctor tried to do what was best for the patient. There had to be some motivation for her to do this. The guidelines have been the same for over 10 years. Most doctors are aware they need to wait 90 days to gave a long bone stim covered. Most Orthofix reps investigated by the DOJ were granted immunity if they told the truth. It sounds like this DPM lied which is why she is going to do jail time. I am sure it was not her idea to create chart notes to get the stim covered but it was the reps.
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The DPM was accused of lying in a Grand Jury appearance. If you just breath the wrong way you will commit perjury. Remember the FED's have a license to cheat, lie, manipulate, fabricate anything they want to get a conviction. And they will pile shit on, because they can. Look at your Yahoo News this morning and read about the man from Brooklyn who was jailed for 25 yrs for a murder he did not commit.

The prosecutor lied, cheated, manipulated and fabricated the facts/evidence and put an innocent man behind bars. How many stories have we heard over the yrs with stories like that. It's a rigged, corrupt system no different in many ways than NKorea, China or Iran. When the FED's have you as a target, it's game over, game, set, match. Unless you have millions to fight and steel balls to face additional pain if you lose, you take your pound of salt and call it a day.
 
























Reps usually coach Drs what to write. Also, we all know reps who type up letters of medical necessity and have an MA stamp or sign for the dr. I know reps who are currently providing loaner units to patients under 90 days and coach the Drs to write Non union when it's time for a new unit.

I have also seen reps behind a clinic computer.

Why people just can't wait the 90 days is beyond me.
 






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