Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Practitioners should never sign documents without reading them first--that's the lesson learned from a recent Department of Justice bust that resulted in an occupational therapist (OT) facing 10 years in prison.

A Detroit-based OT pleaded guilty last week of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and faces not only prison time but a $250,000 fine. She was an uncertified OT who was hired to create and sign falsified therapy files for a therapy practice, according to the DOJ news release. In fact, however, she never provided these therapy services, the DOJ reports. During the course of her time at the practice, the OT and her employer submitted $807,760 in false claims to Medicare.

To read the complete news release, visit www.stopmedicarefraud.gov/HEATnews/michigan.html#dec-01-2011.