A physician pleaded guilty to accepting kickbacks in a fraudulent telemarketing and medical supply scheme, the Justice Department said Feb. 28.
A telemarketing company accessed Medicare and Tricare beneficiary information to contact patients and access their health information. The company then created false medical records with fraudulent orders for durable medical equipment. Medicare and Tricare paid for at least $13.7 million in medical supplies.
Thomas Andrew Webster, MD, 51, admitted to signing those orders between 2021 and 2023, when he was a licensed physician in Washington state. He also admitted to pocketing at least $839,565 from Medicare and Tricare.
Dr. Webster forfeited the bank accounts and other assets related to the criminal conduct, the Justice Department said, and he faces up to five years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for June 26.