Marte A. Martinez Jr., Medicare Fraud, Texas 2020

State: Texas
Category: White Collar Crime
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/pain-doctor-pays-settle-allegations-arising-false-billing" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

LAREDO, Texas – A scheme to deceive Medicare has landed a local doctor in hot water. Dr. Marte A. Martinez Jr., a 44-year-old physician from Laredo, has paid $340,437.68 to resolve allegations he falsely billed Medicare for the use of electro-acupuncture devices, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Dr. Marte A. Martinez Jr. is an anesthesiologist and pain management physician who practices in Laredo. The Medicare billing scheme was reportedly carried out by Marte A. Martinez M.D. PLLC, an entity Martinez used to conduct his medical practice.

According to the allegations, from Aug. 23, 2019, to Feb. 12, 2020, Martinez billed Medicare for the implantation of neurostimulator electrodes. These are surgical procedures usually requiring use of an operating room, with Medicare paying thousands of dollars per procedure.

However, neither Martinez nor his staff performed surgery. Instead, patients received devices used for electro-acupuncture, which involves inserting needles into patients’ ears with the neurostimulator taped behind them with an adhesive.

To date, the Southern District of Texas has resolved four other settlements with medical professionals involving similar allegations of false billing. These cases include a Katy anesthesiologist, a Houston pain doctor, a Rockport chiropractor, and a Houston chiropractor.

The FBI and Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with the assistance of Qlarant, the Unified Program Integrity Contractor for Medicare. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray handled the matter.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

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