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Cookeville Doctor Mitchell Shea has been fined $100,000 for improperly billing Medicare and TennCare.
Shea and Chiro2Med of Tennessee charged the government for electro-acupuncture using a device called a P-Stim. Neither Medicare or TennCare reimburse for these temporary devices. Shea billed the government for the use of these devices over a two-year period beginning in May, 2016.
The government requires implementation of these types of devices by a surgeon.
“These settlements are part of a nationwide effort to hold accountable those providers who were paid improperly for non-reimbursable acupuncture under the guise of a surgically implanted neurostimulator,” U.S. Attorney Don Cochran said. We were able to identify those who profited from the submission of these false claims and negotiate resolutions that resulted in a significant recovery of taxpayer dollars.”
Shea and Chiro2Med must pay $20,000 under five years, under terms of the agreement with the US Attorney’s Office.
Two other medical providers were also fined as part of Monday’s announcement.
“These providers disregarded Medicare and Medicaid rules to bill acupuncture services as P-Stim devices in order to pad their bottom line,” Special Agent Derrick L. Jackson said.
