FL doctor sentenced to four months in prison for role in fraud
Compliance Monitor, April 13, 2005
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A Stuart, FL, physician was sentenced April 8 to four months in prison for his conviction on 22 counts of healthcare fraud and one count of obstruction of justice, the Gainesville Sun reported.
Paul Elliot was found guilty in March 2004 but had to wait for sentencing after the federal sentencing guidelines were found unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that judges can't consider any facts not heard by a jury to add time to a sentence, the Sun reported.
Elliott was convicted on charges that he instructed his staff to bill Medicare and Medicaid for certain tests and examinations that were never conducted or unnecessary. In addition to the four months in federal prison, he was also sentenced to four months of house arrest and three years of probation. Elliott also must pay a $20,000 fine.
"I've had a very difficult two years," Elliot said at sentencing, according to the Sun. "I'm embarrassed, and I'm humiliated by what's happened. I apologize to everybody."
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