L.A. Doctor Charged with Medicare Fraud

A Los Angeles physician was charged today in connection with an alleged $33 million Medicare fraud scheme.

Robert A. Glazer, 67, of the Hollywood Hills, was indicted by a federal grand jury, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. He is expected to be arraigned on Monday.

According to court documents, from January 2006 through last month, Glazer allegedly billed Medicare for services that were not medically necessary, and at times were not provided to the Medicare beneficiaries.

In addition, Glazer allegedly signed prescriptions, certifications, and other medical documents for medically unnecessary home health services, hospice services, and power wheelchairs and other durable medical equipment, prosecutors said.

Glazer's alleged co-conspirators then sold the prescriptions and certifications to medical supply companies, home health agencies, and other providers, knowing that the prescriptions and certifications were fraudulent, prosecutors allege.

Based on these fraudulent prescriptions and certifications, the medical supply companies, home health agencies, and other providers then allegedly submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, according to the DOJ.

As further alleged in court documents, Glazer and co-conspirators were responsible for about $33 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, which paid about $22 million on those claims.

Glazer was initially arrested on May 13, the day after prosecutors filed a criminal complaint, and is free on a $200,000 bond, the DOJ said.

—City News Service