Joe White, 67, Pleads Guilty to False Statement in EHR Incentive Case
TYLER, Texas – Joe White, the former Chief Financial Officer of Shelby Regional Medical Center, has pleaded guilty to making a false statement before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
According to information presented in court, White was responsible for implementing electronic health records for the hospital and attesting to the meaningful use of electronic health records to qualify for incentive payments under Medicare’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program.
On November 20, 2012, White knowingly made a false statement to Medicare falsely representing that the hospital was a meaningful user of electronic health records, when the hospital did not meet the meaningful use requirements.
As a result, Shelby Regional Medical Center received $785,655.00 from Medicare.
White was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 6, 2014.
White faces up to five years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Texas Office of the Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (OAG-MFCU), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth C. McGurk and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.
Any individuals with knowledge of these or other health care fraud violations are encouraged to contact the Department of Health and Human Services’ fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (447-8477).
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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