BOSTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Massachusetts), published as received.
BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office reached a $110,000 settlement today with David Margolis, a clinical social worker with an office in Winchester, to resolve allegations that he submitted false claims to Medicare.
“This settlement is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to fight Medicare fraud, whether on a large or small scale,” said United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz. “Providers who bill for services they never rendered is fraud, plain and simple.”
“Health care providers who try to make a quick buck by billing taxpayers for services never provided will be held accountable for their greedy behavior,” said Special Agent in Charge Phillip M. Coyne of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Working with our law enforcement partners, our agency is dedicated to protecting government health care programs.”
The government’s investigation revealed evidence that Margolis billed Medicare for therapy sessions that he knew never took place, either because he never actually scheduled the sessions or because his clients cancelled or missed the appointments. Margolis did not deny the government’s allegations of fraudulent billing and admitted that the government could prove its case at trial.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office initiated the investigation after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, received a complaint from a Medicare beneficiary who had ceased receiving treatment from Margolis but noticed that the billing continued.
U.S. Attorney Ortiz and HHS-OIG SAC Coyne made the announcement today. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deana K. El-Mallawany and Lisa Asiaf Schlatz.
