PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – A South Florida doctor was sentenced Wednesday to almost four years in federal prison for fraudulently billing Medicare about $2.1 million by diagnosing patients with false ailments.
Dr. Isaac Thompson, 57, of Delray Beach, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $2.1 million in restitution after pleading guilty earlier this year to health care fraud.
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According to federal prosecutors and the FBI, Thompson diagnosed 387 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries between 2006 and 2010 with ankylosing spondylitis, a rare chronic inflammatory disease of the spine.
Thompson reported the diagnoses to Humana, which in turn reported them to Medicare. As a result, Medicare paid about $2.1 million in excess capitation fees, about 80 percent of which went to Thompson.
Because the diagnoses were false, Thompson didn't have any corresponding increase in his cost to treat the patients.
Thompson, who operated medical practices in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, apologized to Judge William Zloch during his sentencing hearing and took responsibility for what happened, the SunSentinel reported.
The newspaper said Thompson, who is free on bond, must turn himself in by Oct. 7 to begin serving his prison term.