Las Vegas Nurse Practitioner Pleads Guilty to Medicare Billing Conspiracy
Mary Huntly, a 67-year-old Las Vegas nurse practitioner, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently bill Medicare for amniotic wound allografts that were medically unreasonable and unnecessary in exchange for illegal health care kickbacks. Between September 2022 and April 2024, Huntly's wound care company submitted approximately $14,333,550 in false claims to Medicare, with the agency paying out around $9,105,563. Huntly's actions compromised the integrity of federal health care programs and put patients at risk of harm.
Key Takeaways:
- Huntly pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks, a charge which carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison.
- The investigation revealed that Huntly applied medically unnecessary allografts to Medicare beneficiaries procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes.
- The total amount of false claims submitted by Huntly's company was approximately $14,333,550, with Medicare paying out around $9,105,563.
- The FBI, HHS-OIG, and DCIS collaborated in the investigation and prosecution of Huntly.
- The case reflects the significant efforts of federal agencies to combat health care fraud and hold accountable individuals who exploit vulnerable populations.
Statistics:
- Total amount of false claims submitted by Huntly's company: $14,333,550
- Amount paid out by Medicare: $9,105,563
- Timeframe of the conspiracy: September 2022 – April 2024
- Maximum statutory penalty for the charge: 5 years in prison
Sources:
- US Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada
- FBI Las Vegas Division
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG)
- dcp.io – Justice Department's website
- milnz.co.nz – MIL Security OSI