Dr. Michael W. Dole, a 59-year-old physician from Alexandria, Louisiana, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Lafayette for his alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud Medicare of over $32.7 million.
According to court documents, Dr. Dole owned and operated a pain management practice in Alexandria, which included an in-house drug testing laboratory. From January 2010 through July 2023, Dr.
Dole allegedly billed Medicare over $32.7 million for unnecessary definitive urine drug testing, involving over 22 classes of drugs in urine specimens from nearly all his patients. These tests were conducted despite lacking documentation or suspicion of drug use among the patients. It is further alleged that Medicare reimbursed Dr.
Dole over $11.7 million for these medically unnecessary tests, and he used the proceeds for personal expenses.
medicare fraud indictment of dr. Dole
Dr.
Dole is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M.
Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana; Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.
HHS-OIG and the FBI New Orleans Field Office are investigating the case. Dr. Dole’s attorney, Mike Small, stated that Dole contends the medical tests he performed were “not only necessary but essential for his patients’ well-being” and that all of Dole’s patients were referred to him by other medical practitioners. Small plans to appear with Dole in court on October 1, where Dole will plead not guilty to all six counts in the indictment.
- KALB.”Alexandria doctor indicted on health care fraud”.
- MagnoliaReporter.”Grand jury indicts Louisiana doctor for Medicare fraud”.
- BloombergLaw.”Louisiana Doctor Charged in $32.7 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme”.