Nurse Convicted For Role In Multi-Million Dollar Hospice Health Care Fraud
PHILADELPHIA – A federal jury, on Monday, returned guilty verdicts against Patricia McGill, 68, of Philadelphia, a registered nurse who took part in a multi-million dollar fraud on Medicare that involved hospice care. The jury found McGill guilty of four counts of health care fraud.
The jury acquitted the defendant of a conspiracy charge and nine counts of health care fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo C. Robreno scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 24, 2016. McGill faces a potential advisory sentencing guideline range of 33 to 41 months in prison, a possible fine, and a $400 special assessment.
As the Director of Professional Services for Home Care Hospice (“HCH”), between 2005 and 2008, McGill authorized and supervised the admission of inappropriate and ineligible patients for hospice services, resulting in approximately $9.32 million in fraudulent claims. HCH, co-owned by Matthew Kolodesh and Alex Pugman, who were convicted separately, was a for-profit business located at 1810 Grant Avenue, and later 2801 Grant Avenue, in Philadelphia.
HCH billed Medicare for hospice services allegedly provided by HCH nurses and health aides for patients at nursing homes, hospitals, and private residences. However, the government’s evidence established that many HCH patients did not meet the Medicare criteria for hospice care, and that HCH billed Medicare for hospice care that was not provided to the patients.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Labor and Trial Attorney Marty Woelfle of the Organized Crime and Gang Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.