A former Missouri physician was sentenced to 22 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to using his father's name to bill Medicare and Medicaid after his own privileges were revoked.
Justin LaMonda, MD, 42, of Moberly, Mo., was also ordered to repay $537,332, according to a Sept. 14 Justice Department news release
Dr. LaMonda had his Medicare Part B privileges revoked Dec. 20, 2018, after it was determined he submitted reimbursement claims for services performed while his medical license was suspended for 30 days in 2017. His Medicaid provider number was terminated Sept. 12, 2019.
Dr. LaMonda admitted that as early as Dec. 20, 2018, he and his father — who was also a physician — agreed to bill services performed by the younger physician as though they had been administered by his father. After the younger physician's Medicaid billing privileges were terminated, the pair expanded their agreement to include those claims as well.
The younger physician instructed his billing personnel to use his father's billing provider number on claims for payment, referrals to other healthcare providers and durable medical equipment orders. Dr. LaMonda's father would transfer him funds when payments were received. The elder Dr. LaMonda died in September 2021, according to the release.