My Doctor Reports

Doctor related news - Powered By EZDoctor

Mount Sinai doctor accused of drugging with morphine and sexually assaulting patient


A prominent Manhattan doctor was accused of groping a second Mount Sinai Hospital patient before surrendering Tuesday for allegedly masturbating onto another woman’s face, the Daily News has learned.

 

Dr. David Newman turned himself in on charges that he ejaculated on a patient knocked out by a shot of morphine that he delivered personally in the hospital emergency room.

Newman, 45, showed a stone face and declined to speak as he walked into the NYPD Special Victims Squad in Harlem — and again as he was led away in handcuffs four hours later.

The doctor, an Iraq War veteran and published author, was arraigned on sexual abuse and forcible touching charges in both cases Tuesday evening.

 

Newman, whose wife skipped the arraignment, was held on $150,000 bond over $50,000 cash bail.

To know if your doctor has had any malpractice claims, board actions or criminal offenses, visit ezdoctor.com and get an EZDoctor Report on any doctor of your choice. EZDoctor Reports contain important information about doctor, from malpractice claims to real patient reviews. Go to ezdoctor.com and get your EZDoctor Report today!

 

Full & Original Story: nydailynews.com

 

Best Health Apps for Physicians

We live in a digital age, where most of our actions are carried out via our smartphones. As the world continues to become more health-conscious, consumers are taking advantage of smartphones to manage and improve their own health, but healthcare professionals are also seeing the benefits of mobile health (mHealth) apps geared towards improving their practice. 

  • Epocrates

This is the gold standard of medical apps. With millions of downloads across the country, doctors are using this app to look up drug information and interactions, find other providers for consults and referrals, and quickly calculate patient measurements like BMI.

While the app itself and most of its content is free, access to additional information and functionality (like lab guides, alternative medications, and disease information) requires an in-app purchase of Epocrates Essentials for $159.99 a year.

  • UpToDate

Hundreds of thousands of physicians have installed this app, and for good reason.  It is full of medical knowledge and answers clinical questions at the point of need.

However, it’s also not cheap.  While downloading the app is free, in order to actually access the wealth of information contained within it, you or your organization needs to have a subscription to the UpToDate database. This starts at $499 a year for an individual physician.

  • Doximity

This is the official app for the social network for doctors.  Doximity claims 40% of U.S. Physicians are members (joining is free) and this app allows you to access the network on the go. You can find and communicate with other doctors on the network, send HIPAA-secure faxes through your phone, and follow news and trends in your specialty.

The app is free to download, but does require you to sign up for membership in the network.

  • Read by QxMD

Read is an app that centralizes all your medical literature and journals.  Using a magazine format, it allows you to read and download studies, journals, and articles from a host of sources including open access journals, Pubmed, and papers from linked institutions.

With tens of thousands of installs, and plenty of free content this is a no-brainer for physicians looking to keep current in their specialty.  The app is free, but some journals and Pubmed may require an institutional or individual subscription or credentials.

  • NEJM This Week

Access recent articles, view images of medical conditions, and listen to audio and video summaries of articles with this app from the trusted New England Journal of Medicine.  Available only for iOS devices, this app also includes videos of medical procedures, and reports on recent research findings.

This app is totally free to download and access.

  • Isabel

Isabel is a diagnosis assistance app. With its results validated by studies which have been peer reviewed in dozens of different medical journals, this app is a solid way for any physician to double check their diagnoses.  Isabel’s database includes over 6,000 disease presentations and symptoms, and the ability to refine results by age, gender, and travel history.

This app does require online access, however, and while the app itself is free, in order to use any of its functionality and data you need to purchase a monthly subscription of $10.99, or an annual one of $119.99.

  • Figure 1 – Medical Images

View and share medical images with other physicians using this free iOS and Android app.  Hundreds of thousands of users send, comment on, and search through medical images in Figure 1’s visual database.  This app is perfect for physicians looking for feedback on a rare condition, or seeking to see and learn about rare or textbook cases.  Additionally, the app guarantees patient privacy with automatic face-blocking and removal of identifying information.

This app is free to download and use.

  • DynaMed Mobile

In both iOS and Android flavors, this app brings the powerful DynaMed reference database to mobile.  Subscribers to DynaMed ($395 a year for an individual physician) will get the full functionality of the decision support tool on their smartphone or other device.

Functionality includes disease references, point of care information, and summaries of over 3,400 different topics, with constant updates as DynaMed’s team looks over new studies and evidence to add to the database.

  • Medscape

This app, by WebMD, is another great medical reference tool offered on iOS and Android.  The app is completely free, but does require you to register for a free account (which you can do through the app itself) to use it.  Once done, you can look up medications and drugs, check the disease reference tool, catch up on medical news, and much more.

  • Virtual Practice for Doctors

A free, mobile-based EMR, this app is accessible through iOS and Android devices, as well as online.  Both the app and service are free, though you can upgrade to a premium version with advanced features like a patient portal and custom domain.  However, the free version offers a great avenue to communicate with patients outside the office, and includes video chat, remote patient monitoring, and the ability to answer typed patient questions.

Source: healthcareglobal.com, blog.capterra.com 

EZDoctor and April Partner to Offer Virtual Doctor Visits to International Travelers


EZDoctor, the leader in healthcare transparency and April, a global travel insurance provider have recently partnered to offer telemedicine services to patients traveling abroad that are in need of medical assistance.

The alliance between EZDoctor and April, allows patients to remotely consult with a U.S. board certified physician while traveling abroad.

With EZDoctor's support, April will be connecting their travelers from around the world with doctors anytime, anywhere needing only a webcam enabled device and a reliable internet connection.

These virtual physician consultations are not intended to treat emergency medical conditions/situations. Patients will receive primary care services, treatment for common ailments like the flu, allergies, rashes etc. and educational and informative medical advice from a trained and thoroughly screened professional.

EZDoctor and April are working together to improve the doctor-patient experience by providing on demand consultations and with doctors readily available to treat patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To serve the needs of April's global travelers patients are connected with U.S. physicians within 15 minutes and can currently request doctors that are fluent in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese.

According to the American Telemedicine Association, approximately 10 million patients benefited from using telemedicine last year. The telemedicine industry is developing quickly and becoming more prominent in societies around the world. EZDoctor and April are two leaders expanding quality telemedicine services worldwide.

"We're very excited about this partnership, we believe patients should have access to a board certified physician anywhere and anytime. As telemedicine continues to be a rapidly growing component of healthcare in the United States, we want to provide patients an accessible way to treat their healthcare needs when they are away from home," said David Marsidi, EZDoctor's founder and CEO.

"April & EZDoctor are both convenient, progressive thought leaders in the way we prioritize the patient's needs and that is what we want to deliver through this new service by offering a fast, easy, reliable and secure doctor consultations," continued Marsidi. "Together we will deliver the world-class healthcare service that patients deserve."        

EZDoctor and April patients will:

  • Have access to telemedicine services 24/7.
  • Resolve unexpected medical problems when traveling.
  • Receive virtual physicians consultations from any location worldwide.
  • Connect with a physician within 15 minutes of their request.
  • Have better outcomes because of timelier access to a physician.
  • Reduce unnecessary admissions, save time and money.
  • Receive primary care services on the go.

About EZDoctor
EZDoctor, healthcare technology business located in Florida, provides healthcare services nationwide. As an advocate for healthcare information transparency, EZDoctor developed a Carfax type of report but for doctors called EZDoctor Reports, to help patients make better decisions when it comes to choosing a doctor. With their rapid growth in the healthcare technology industry and over 1.5M+ doctor profiles, EZDoctor has radically transformed the industry by connecting healthcare consumers with the best doctors and equipping them with accurate information to make an informed healthcare decision.

About April
April has been a leading brand providing quality Travel and other Specialty Insurance programs providing services in Europe, Latin America and the U.S.
April offers comprehensive travel insurance & assistance plans covering multiple trips for frequent travelers. 

Quick Tips for Choosing a Doctor

When you choose a primary care doctor for yourself or a loved one, make sure to choose a doctor you can trust. A primary care doctor can help you make important decisions, like which screening tests and shots to get, treat many health problems, refer you to a specialist when you need more help with a specific health issue.

Here are some things you should know before selecting a physician

  • Listens to your opinions and concerns
  • Encourages you to ask questions
  • Explains things in ways you can understand

When you and your doctor work together as a team, you’ll get better health care. Try the following tips to find a doctor who’s right for you.

Research your doctor.

If you have health insurance, you may need to choose a doctor in their network. Some insurance plans may let you choose a doctor outside the network if you pay more of the cost.

What you should know about your doctor:

  • Contact information, Locations and Gender. 
  • License Information. It is important to know if your doctor is licensed to provide the care that you need.
  • Education. To learn more about your physician’s background EZDoctor Reports contain information regarding where they studied, graduation date, board certifications, as well as their internship, residency and fellowship. This will help you make an educated decision regarding your doctor’s training and ability.
  • Hospital Affiliations/Privileges.  Its common practice for a doctor to have their office in one location and perform treatment in a separate location. For example, you could go to a doctor’s office for a consultation regarding your knee and that doctor might provide treatment and/or surgery at a hospital that he is affiliated with or has privileges. By having this information before hand, it can help you in deciding whether this doctor would be the most convenient for you.
  • Procedure Pricing Information. When taking care of any health concern, one of the main things we consider is the cost associated with any procedures that might be necessary. An EZDoctor report will display an average charge for procedures performed by the physician you are reviewing.
  • Patient Referral Summary.  Primary care physicians, when needed, refer patients to a specialist. Especially when they face a diagnosis that is beyond their Scope of Practice. With an EZDoctor report you will see the  physicians referral pattern.
  • Pricing/Prescribing Habits. Is your  doctor more likely to prescribe a name brand versus a generic drug? Despite your preference, by seeing a breakdown of the most common prescriptions a physician orders you can get a clear view of his prescribing tendencies and average price per prescription.
  • Disciplinary Actions. Finding out if a physician has been sanctioned or not by a state medical board can be very useful when it comes to selecting a doctor to visit. Equally important is to know  what those infractions were related to.
  • Criminal Offenses. While federal criminal records are not available to the public, EZDoctor reports include state government records that indicate whether a physician has ever been charged or convicted of a crime. Allowing you to have this information prior to any consultation and/or treatment.
  • Malpractice Claims. You have the right to know if your physician has been involved in any incidents regarding his medical care. From surgical and medication errors to misdiagnoses, EZDoctor will provide the information you need.
  • Patient Reviews. It’s always good to know what other patients are saying about a physician. EZDoctor reports collect patient reviews from multiple sources.

Other important questions to ask about the doctor:

  • Is the doctor taking new patients?
  • Is the doctor part of a group practice? Who are the other doctors?
  • Who will see you if your doctor isn’t available?
  • Which hospital does the doctor use?
  • If you have a medical condition, does the doctor have experience treating it?
  • What languages does the doctor speak? 

You can find all the information you need on a physician by obtaining an EZDoctor Report. Go to ezdoctor.com now to get started! 

Source: healthfinder.gov

Virtual Visits Benefit Patients as Well as Physicians

Telemedicine is expanding and may soon redefine modern health care. With the aid of wearable health monitors, computers, and video, doctors will be able to evaluate, diagnose, and treat you—all without your physical presence in their office.

The traditional medical appointment is not “convenient” for everybody. Most patients dislike long waits at the doctor's office. Virtual visits can save you travel time and the hassle of sitting in a waiting room with other sick people. 

If you have a busy schedule, virtual doctor visits are perfect for you. All you have to do is: log on, pay a fee and a doctor will be right there to answer your questions about sore throats, sprains, rashes, earaches, headaches and other conditions.

Virtual doctor’s visits from a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop are becoming more than a trend, providing opportunities to keep people healthy and outside of hospitals.

Some Benefits of Virtual Visits Include:

For Patients:

  • Have better outcomes because of faster access to specialists who can apply the highest standards of care associated with their clinical discipline when evaluating the patient.
  • Reduce unnecessary admissions and/or readmissions when through remote monitoring or remote consultations with clinicians, they are able to better manage their health situations while at home.
  • Avoid unnecessary transfers to another facility or other physicians.
  • With virtual visits a specialist can determine if the patient’s best care option is to stay local and allowing patients to remain closer to the support network of family and friends.
  • You can send a digital image of a suspicious rash, along with your medical history, to a dermatologist, who will review it, diagnose, and prescribe medication to treat it.
  • You can check-in with your doctor after surgery for follow-up care in your own home.
  • If you have diabetes, you can monitor your blood sugar levels at home and upload the readings to your doctor's computer, saving yourself a time-consuming visit. Irregular blood sugar levels would generate an alert to the doctor's staff to call you in for immediate intervention to prevent complications.
  • If you have hypertension, you can wear a monitor that tracks your blood pressure daily and transmits your results to your medical record, allowing your doctor to track your progress.

For Physicians:

  • Extend their clinical reach to patients who can benefit from their expertise.
  • In some cases, earn on-call pay for providing virtual consultations.
  • Save time traveling between facilities to see patients, increasing their productivity and improving their quality of life.

Source: Handsontelehealth.com

The Importance of Good Doctor-Patient Communication


Good doctor-patient communication is essential to get the most benefit from your doctor visit, yet so often the lines of communication break down or are never adequately established.

Here are some reasons for poor doctor-patient communication:

  • Lack of face time with the doctor.
  • Feelings of intimidation on the patient's part.
  • Lack of comfort with the subject matter. 

Communication is a very important part of getting the best possible treatment. What can you as the patient do to improve this process?

Communication Is a Two-Way Street

You might be surprised to learn that doctors are generally not given any specific training in how to communicate well with patients. A doctor's training concentrates on the skills of diagnosis and treatment, often objectifying the patient as a set of symptoms to be treated. Bedside manner is something learned by doing and some may never become adept at this skill. As the patient, however, there are some things you can do to help the process along.

Be Prepared for the Visit

Doctors today are often pressed for time. It is incumbent upon the patient to be well-prepared prior to office visits in order to accomplish the most in a shorter period of time. Like a good Boy Scout, you should "be prepared". Some steps you can take to get ready for your office visit:

  • Arrange your priorities for the visit ahead of time. Discuss what it is that concerns you the most at the outset of the visit.
  • Prior to your visit, review your answers to the following likely topics: your symptoms, your medical history, what you feel may be causing your symptoms (for example, a stressful event that has recently occurred), your current and past medications and treatments.
  • Make a list of any questions or issues that you have carried over from your last visit.
  • If you don't feel you will remember everything, write it down. This will help you stay focused and get everything accomplished that you desire.
Educate Yourself

Read everything you can get your hands on about your illness and its treatments. Ask questions. There is a plethora of information on the Internet. Just plug the name of your drug or condition into your favorite search engine and read away. Keep a pad and pen handy as you search to write down questions for your doctor. Print out relevant articles and resources for future reference.

Your Needs Matter

Suffering from unbearable side effects? You don't need to suffer in silence. One of the goals of your treatment should be to get you back as close to normal as possible. Although many medications produce undesirable side effects, such as sexual dysfunction or weight gain, the good news is that many of the newer medications coming down the pipeline do not. If side effects are a concern, have a frank discussion with your doctor about trying an alternate medication.

Provide Feedback

Doctors are not mind readers. If a treatment isn't working, they won't know if you don't tell them. Nor can they help with side effects. One of the primary means a doctor uses to determine if a treatment is helping you is your feedback. Providing your doctor with complete, timely and honest information is crucial in getting you on the best medication for your needs.

This Is Just Too Embarrassing!

Have a problem that you feel ashamed to discuss? I'm going to let you in on a little secret. You are not the first person to face this issue and your doctor will not be shocked or upset with you for mentioning it. Remember, your doctor is there to help. There's no reason you have to suffer in silence with sexual dysfunction or any other embarrassing problem you may have.

The solution may be quite simple compared to how difficult the problem may feel. To get your best care, you must be honest. Also, keep in mind that doctors have an ethical obligation to keep your case confidential. If you just can't bring yourself to say something, however, try these tips:

  • If you don't feel comfortable talking aloud about the problem, write it down. How you communicate the problem is not as important as if you communicate it.
  • Don't put off talking about it. Bring it up at the beginning of the session and get it out of the way first thing.
  • Talk to the nurse ahead of time. Sometimes patients feel less intimidated by a nurse or other office personnel. The nurse can then bring up your problem to the doctor allowing him to broach the subject with you in a less threatening manner.
  • Remember that your doctor is just another human being like yourself. Having an advanced degree does not mean that he is immune to the same conditions that you yourself are experiencing. My first psychiatrist got into the field of psychiatry because he was suffering from panic attacks during medical school.

But They Just Won't Listen!

Let's say you've done all your homework, but your doctor interrupts you or says not to worry and dismisses your concerns? You just don't feel like you're being heard. What should you do?

At this point, it's very important to remember that you are paying for a service. You are the customer and you deserve to have your needs dealt with. Speak calmly, but assertively. Let your doctor know that you value his time, but you do not feel confident that your questions have been addressed. Then ask your questions again politely and don't back down until you feel satisfied that you have been answered. Avoid taking a confrontational stance, but do make certain that you are really being listened to. In all likelihood, this will be enough. Oftentimes, doctors become accustomed to making decisions for patients because most patients are used to turning all the decision making power over to their physicians. A patient who wants to become involved in his own treatment is a novelty. If, however, you simply are not getting the service that you desire don't be afraid to seek out another doctor. Your health and well-being are at stake. You deserve to get the service you are paying for.


Source: depression.about.com

'Guru' doctor of mood-stabilizing drugs suspended for second time


A doctor who described himself in an Orange County Register investigation as the “guru” of mood-stabilizing drugs has been suspended for the second time by state medical regulators.

The Medical Board of California put Laguna Niguel physician Paul Corona on a five-year suspension Friday for gross negligence in treating five patients and failing to maintain adequate medical records. He was also suspended in 2009 after suffering a psychotic breakdown.

Corona, who described himself to the Register as the most prolific prescriber of mood-stabilizing drugs anywhere, is prohibited from supervising physician assistants during his suspension.

His attorney, Ronald Talmo, declined comment Monday.

Jodi Barber, whose son, Jarrod, overdosed in 2010 on a mixture of drugs, some prescribed by Corona, said the state was too lenient.

“This is ridiculous. Remove his license permanently. How many slaps on the hand is he going to be given?” said Barber of Laguna Niguel.

Her son did not appear to be one of the victims in the state complaint.

Corona was the subject of a 2011 investigation by the Register into how doctors overprescribed to teens, fueling a rise in Orange County overdoses. Coroner records show accidental fatal overdoses have risen steadily from 130 in 2003 to 291 in 2013.

Corona preached the use of psychotropic drugs to remove the mental traumas that feed drug addiction.

“I am the top prescriber of psychotropic medications around,” Corona said. “Ninety-five percent of my patients are very happy.”

But drug addiction experts questioned Corona’s tactics, saying it didn’t make sense to use drugs to fight drugs.

Dr. Harry Haroutunian, physician director at the famed Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, told the Register in 2011 it is especially dangerous to prescribe drugs with sedative qualities when treating addicts in an outpatient setting, where they might score more drugs on the street.

“If he is telling you he is the highest prescriber,” Haroutunian said, “that would be a dubious distinction by my measuring stick.”

Corona first came under the state’s attention after Orange County sheriff’s deputies were sent to his Laguna Niguel home in 2007 to investigate reports of a man having a psychotic breakdown and threatening suicide, according to a medical board accusation.

“Respondent was acting bizarre and was very aggressive, yelling and screaming incoherently. The officers had to taser respondent several times in order to subdue him,” said the report by the medical board. Corona was hospitalized for nearly a month for psychological observation.

It was the same year that he published a book about treating mood disorders, entitled “Healing the Mind and Body.”

In a 2008 interview with the medical board, Corona said he suffered an episode of hypomania three years prior. State documents say that he was prescribed Seroquel by his psychiatrist, but he admitted to self-medicating from his sample drugs after his psychiatrist moved away.

“His disorder has impacted his ability to practice safely and led to his hospitalization for a psychotic breakdown,” the state complaint said. He was put under suspension for five years in June 2009.

Under the latest suspension, Corona must take courses in prescribing practices, medical record keeping, medical ethics and clinical education. He must also find another physician to monitor him, according to medical board documents.

Source: OCRegister

Many Doctors Work While Sick, Survey Shows


Many health care professionals work when they are sick, putting their patients at risk for serious illness or even death, new research suggests.

The danger is greatest for patients with weakened immune systems, and the study authors noted that these practices also increase health care costs.

Since the consequences of these types of infections can be significant, the researchers wanted to know why health care professionals didn't stay home when they were ill.

So, they surveyed doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists and midwives. A team of researchers, led by Julia Szymczak of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, received anonymous responses from more than 500 health care professionals.

The vast majority of those surveyed (95 percent) believed that working while sick put their patients at risk. Still, 83 percent admitted to working while sick at least once in the past year and 9 percent said they worked while sick at least five times. They said they worked with symptoms like diarrhea, fever and significant respiratory issues; the study published online July 6 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics showed.

And why do they work when sick?

  • Almost 99 percent didn't want to let their colleagues down,
  • Almost 95 percent had concerns about staffing,
  • 92.5 percent didn't want to disappoint their patients,
  • 64 percent were worried about being ostracized by their colleagues,
  • Almost 64 percent were concerned about continuity of care.

"The study illustrates the complex social and logistic factors that cause this behavior," the researchers said in a journal news release.

Lowering the stigma that can come with sick leave "must factor in workplace demands and variability in patient census [count] and emphasize flexibility," Dr. Jeffrey Starke, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and Dr. Mary Anne Jackson, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, wrote in a related editorial. "Also essential is clarity from occupational health and infection control departments to identify what constitutes being too sick to work."

Source: Healthy News

Benefits of Telemedicine


Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status. Telemedicine includes a growing variety of applications and services using two-way video, email, smart phones, wireless tools and other forms of telecommunications technology.

Telemedicine is not a separate medical specialty.

The practice of medicine through telecommunications, or telemedicine, began in the early 1960s when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) first put men in space. Physiological measurements of the astronauts were telemetered from both the spacecraft and the space suits during NASA space flights. These early efforts were enhanced by the development of satellite technology that fostered the development of telemedicine.

Now, telemedicine is expanding and may soon redefine modern health care. With the aid of wearable health monitors, computers, and video, doctors will be able to evaluate, diagnose, and treat you—all without your physical presence in their office.

How is telemedicine used today?

Telemedicine provides opportunities to keep people healthy and outside of hospitals. For example, in certain regions and medical practices in the US:

  • You can send a digital image of a suspicious rash, along with your medical history, to a dermatologist, who will review it, diagnose, and prescribe medication to treat it.
  • You can check-in with your doctor after surgery for follow-up care in your own home.
  • If you have diabetes, you can monitor your blood sugar levels at home and upload the readings to your doctor's computer, saving yourself a time-consuming visit. Irregular blood sugar levels would generate an alert to the doctor's staff to call you in for immediate intervention to prevent complications.
  • If you have hypertension, you can wear a monitor that tracks your blood pressure daily and transmits your results to your medical record, allowing your doctor to track your progress.

Benefits

Convenience. Need a quick consultation with your doctor? Telemedicine can save you travel time and the hassle of sitting in a waiting room with other sick people.

Increased rural access. There’s a shortage of doctors in many rural areas of the US. Telemedicine has a unique capacity to increase medical service to rural patients.

Cost and efficiency. Doctors often charge less for a telemedicine consultation than they do for an in-person visit. A telemedicine consult might cost $40 to $70, compared for $130 to $180 for an office visit. In addition, telemedicine allows doctors to efficiently and closely monitor patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Second opinions. Telemedicine allows a far-away specialist to evaluate your MRI, X-ray, or other scans and tests. This will help patients who want a second opinion, as well as doctors who want to consult with experts on complicated cases.

These technologies offer convenience and huge potential cost savings, but they are not without controversy. Some doctors are concerned about the safety of prescribing drugs without examining the patient in person.Can they really assess what the patient needs over a video link? They also worry that telemedicine could depersonalize your healthcare. In addition, some medical problems will always demand a personal exam.

Sources: Berkley Wellness

Osteopathic Physician Sentenced to Three Months for Health Fraud

U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny sentenced David Lester Johnston, 46, of Ridgefield, Monday to three months in prison for health care fraud.

Johnston is an osteopathic physician who operates Osteopathic Wellness Center, LLC, in Ridgefield.

 On Jan. 16, he pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and admitted that he engaged in a scheme to defraud several private health insurance companies by submitting claims for evaluation and management services (physician office visits) that he did not perform, and by misrepresenting the nature of the services that were performed, according to court documents.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnston submitted claims for physician office visits that were not performed at all. Instead, the patients only received massages and related services from a massage therapist. In addition, he falsely described the services rendered and falsely stated that he himself had rendered the services.

The investigation revealed that on several occasions Johnston was out of the country when the massage therapist was seeing Johnston’s patients.

Johnston was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $172,950.

In addition, as part of the resolution of this case, Johnston entered into a civil settlement with the government and has agreed to pay $270,528 to settle federal civil claims that Johnston submitted false claims to the Medicare program for office visits, osteopathic manipulative treatment and physical therapy services that were not performed. Instead, the Medicare patients treated by the massage therapist in Johnston’s practice only received massages and related services. Medicare does not recognize massage therapists as providers and they are not eligible to participate in the Medicare program. Johnston nevertheless billed the Medicare program as if he had provided the services in question.

Pursuant to the civil settlement, Johnston has been excluded from participation in all federal health care programs for a period of five years.

Source: newstimes.com