A former otolaryngologist from Merrillville, Ind., has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors in which he will plead guilty to all counts of healthcare fraud and in return serve four years in prison, according to a Post-Tribune report.
Mark Weinberger, MD, who is scheduled to go to trial Nov. 9, was accused of filing false claims to health insurance companies for surgeries he never performed at his nose, throat and eye medical practice. According to the report, Dr. Weinberger put patients under anesthesia but then never performed the scheduled procedures. The FBI began investigating him when patients started filing civil lawsuits against him. He consequently fled the country in 2004 and was captured in northern Italy late last year, according to the report.
As part of the plea agreement, Dr. Weinberger would also pay restitution to health insurance companies and would repay patients any money they paid to a U.S. trustee who dissolved his medical practice. In order for Dr. Weinberger to be sentenced to the four years in prison — instead of the 10 years maximum for each of the 22 counts against him — a U.S. district judge has to accept the agreement, according to the report.
Read the Post-Tribune report about Dr. Mark Weinberger's plea bargain.
Read other coverage about physician fraud:
- Florida Pain Physician Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Illegal Drug Distribution, Medicare Fraud
- Washington Releases Statement on Disciplinary Action Taken Against Physicians Engaging in Fraud
- New York Podiatrist Guilty of Medicare Fraud, Sentencing Delayed Due to New Charges
Mark Weinberger, MD, who is scheduled to go to trial Nov. 9, was accused of filing false claims to health insurance companies for surgeries he never performed at his nose, throat and eye medical practice. According to the report, Dr. Weinberger put patients under anesthesia but then never performed the scheduled procedures. The FBI began investigating him when patients started filing civil lawsuits against him. He consequently fled the country in 2004 and was captured in northern Italy late last year, according to the report.
As part of the plea agreement, Dr. Weinberger would also pay restitution to health insurance companies and would repay patients any money they paid to a U.S. trustee who dissolved his medical practice. In order for Dr. Weinberger to be sentenced to the four years in prison — instead of the 10 years maximum for each of the 22 counts against him — a U.S. district judge has to accept the agreement, according to the report.
Read the Post-Tribune report about Dr. Mark Weinberger's plea bargain.
Read other coverage about physician fraud:
- Florida Pain Physician Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Illegal Drug Distribution, Medicare Fraud
- Washington Releases Statement on Disciplinary Action Taken Against Physicians Engaging in Fraud
- New York Podiatrist Guilty of Medicare Fraud, Sentencing Delayed Due to New Charges