Operation “Happy Clickers” targets Michigan doctors accused of authorizing fraudulent Medicare spending through telemedicine fraud schemes.

Michigan Doctors Face Penalties in Nationwide Medicare Fraud

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan announced a major enforcement push targeting telemedicine fraud, leading to criminal convictions and civil settlements for several Michigan doctors. Part of the initiative known as Operation “Happy Clickers,” the actions aim to curb Medicare fraud schemes involving medically unnecessary orthotic braces and genetic testing authorized via telemedicine platforms.

U.S. Attorney Mark Totten highlighted that these schemes have preyed on older adults for years, funneling billions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent actors. “Physicians checked their training and oaths at the door and click-signed medical orders without an appropriate medical review,” Totten stated, emphasizing the gravity of the offenses and the government’s commitment to holding perpetrators accountable.

Convictions and Settlements in the Spotlight

The second wave of enforcement includes criminal convictions for Dr. Theresa Kordish of Kalamazoo and Dr. Utibe Effiong, formerly of Mt. Pleasant. Both pleaded guilty to making false statements in healthcare matters after authorizing medical orders for patients they neither met nor examined. Each doctor has agreed to civil settlements, with Dr. Kordish to pay $50,000 and Dr. Effiong $150,000.

In addition, civil settlements were reached with three other doctors:

Dr. Derek Grossman of Traverse City agreed to pay nearly $295,193 for authorizing over 1,300 unnecessary orthotic braces.
Dr. Pedro Toweh of Battle Creek will pay $85,822 for approving over 800 similar orders.
Dr. Aaron Willen, formerly of Kalamazoo, agreed to an $80,000 settlement.

Dr. Kordish and Dr. Effiong are set for sentencing in February 2025.

Coordinated Crackdown on Telemedicine Fraud

This enforcement follows previous takedowns involving telemarketing schemes, medical supply companies, and genetic testing labs defrauding Medicare. Fraudsters, often operating through overseas call centers, solicited orders for unnecessary medical items from elderly Medicare beneficiaries. Doctors allegedly expedited these orders for compensation, breaching federal anti-kickback laws. Investigations, led by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG), have so far resulted in nine convictions and over $1 million recovered for the Medicare Program.

Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of HHS-OIG, reiterated that such fraud “undermines our health care system and wastes valuable taxpayer dollars.” Cheyvoryea Gibson, the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge in Michigan, emphasized that “by preying on the elderly and defrauding Medicare, these individuals betrayed their oath to uphold the highest standards of care and ethics.”

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