A jury on Wednesday convicted a Bay Space physician of healthcare fraud, in addition to accepting kickbacks for affected person referrals, authorities stated.
Henry Geoffrey Watson, 67, an Oakland resident, additionally made false statements referring to a health-care matter, the jury determined, in response to a press release from U.S. Lawyer Thomas Colthurst of the Northern District of California. Watson remained free on bond, pending his scheduled sentencing listening to on Feb. 28, 2024.
In line with Colthurst, Watson referred sufferers he visited in retirement houses beneath sham circumstances to costly and unneeded residence well being companies that have been billed to Medicare.
Colthurst stated the jury discovered that Watson used his place as a licensed medical physician to take part in three kickback schemes involving well being care from 2013 to 2019.
Proof at trial proved that within the first kickback, Amity Residence Well being Care and its CEO, Amanda Singh, conspired with Watson to pay him $3,000 a month to refer Medicare sufferers to Amity, Colthurst stated. Singh pleaded responsible to expenses of conspiracy to pay kickbacks for the referrals on Aug. 5, 2022, in response to court docket data.
Movies proven on the trial additionally confirmed Watson accepting envelopes of money for a kickback totaling greater than $10,000 at 4 conferences in 2017, Colthurst stated. These envelopes have been delivered by an undercover FBI agent.
Colthurst stated the third conviction concerned a conspiracy between Watson and others to certify falsely that retirement residence residents have been homebound, which means they didn’t have the traditional potential to go away the house. The proof at trial confirmed they have been typically wholesome, energetic and capable of come and go.
Colthurst stated the proof additionally confirmed that Watson falsely billed Medicare for certifying the people and obtained $100 per affected person referral.
