John R. McLean, MD, a cardiologist from Salisbury, Md., has been indicted for allegedly putting unnecessary coronary stents in hundreds of patients and billing private and public payors for the procedures, according to a Baltimore Sun report.
In 2007, investigators at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md., where Dr. McLean practiced and later surrendered his privileges, reported he placed at least two unnecessary dozen coronary stents in patients. However, federal investigators later discovered the unnecessary procedures allegedly occurred more than 200 times and that he issued hundreds of unnecessary electrocardiograms, echocardiographs and nuclear stress tests. From 2003 to 2007, Dr. McLean also allegedly falsified patients' medical records to make it seem they needed the procedures and lied on claim forms to payors, according to the report.
An investigator from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated approximately $2.2 million was defrauded from Medicare due to Dr. McLean's unnecessary procedures. Dr. McLean has already reimbursed more than a dozen patients and their insurers for stents he admitted were medically unnecessary and blamed his poor eyesight for the medical misjudgments, although federal investigators suggest he did it for monetary gains, according to the report.
The indictment against Dr. McLean seeks forfeiture of $519,000 in cash and two properties, according to the report.
Read the Baltimore Sun report about Dr. McLean's indictment.
Read other coverage on healthcare fraud:
- Former Los Angeles Hospital Executive Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Healthcare Fraud
- Florida Surgeon, Others Plead Guilty to Involvement in $37M Medicare Fraud Scheme
- Family Practice Physician, Clinic Owner Convicted in $2.3M Detroit-Area Medicare Fraud Scheme
In 2007, investigators at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md., where Dr. McLean practiced and later surrendered his privileges, reported he placed at least two unnecessary dozen coronary stents in patients. However, federal investigators later discovered the unnecessary procedures allegedly occurred more than 200 times and that he issued hundreds of unnecessary electrocardiograms, echocardiographs and nuclear stress tests. From 2003 to 2007, Dr. McLean also allegedly falsified patients' medical records to make it seem they needed the procedures and lied on claim forms to payors, according to the report.
An investigator from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated approximately $2.2 million was defrauded from Medicare due to Dr. McLean's unnecessary procedures. Dr. McLean has already reimbursed more than a dozen patients and their insurers for stents he admitted were medically unnecessary and blamed his poor eyesight for the medical misjudgments, although federal investigators suggest he did it for monetary gains, according to the report.
The indictment against Dr. McLean seeks forfeiture of $519,000 in cash and two properties, according to the report.
Read the Baltimore Sun report about Dr. McLean's indictment.
Read other coverage on healthcare fraud:
- Former Los Angeles Hospital Executive Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Healthcare Fraud
- Florida Surgeon, Others Plead Guilty to Involvement in $37M Medicare Fraud Scheme
- Family Practice Physician, Clinic Owner Convicted in $2.3M Detroit-Area Medicare Fraud Scheme