Florida doctor convicted of 162 counts of healthcare fraud

A federal jury has convicted a Florida doctor of 162 counts of health care fraud, reports the Washington Times.

Ona Colasante, MD, defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida through false billing schemes at two different businesses, according to U.S. Attorney Christopher Canova.

Prosecutors say 59-year-old doctor ordered non-FDA-approved drugs at reduced prices, gave them to patients and then bill insurance companies for FDA-approved drugs at full price. She also billed insurance companies for counseling, treatment and training that never happened.

“One family member came and she knew that the rest of the family was in the waiting room… she’d call the whole sleu of them into an exam room and talk to them for two minutes and pull all their charts and bill them all,” says a former employee.

This is not the first time Colasante has faced legal troubles. An FBI investigation at “Colasante Clinic” in 2011 lead to 210 counts of money laundering and healthcare fraud.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 25 and according to Canova, Colasante could be sentenced to 10 years on each of the 162 counts.