US Attorney Andrew B. Birge announced separate charges brought against Roger D. Beyer, M.D., and his wife, Susan E. Wright, N.P., J.D. Dr. Beyer was the owner of Women’s Health Care Specialists, P.C. (“WHCS”), an obstetrics-gynecology practice in Kalamazoo, and Urological Solutions of Michigan, PLC (“USM”), a medical practice consisting of traveling nurse practitioners in West Michigan. The Felony Information filed against Dr. Beyer charges him with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. The United States alleges that Dr. Beyer conspired to fraudulently bill Medicare for therapy services, known as pelvic muscle rehabilitation (“PMR”) therapy, provided by USM, using more-lucrative and inappropriate diagnostic codes. The PMR therapy was provided purportedly to treat mostly elderly female patients with fecal or urinary incontinence.
The United States also alleges in the Felony Information that Dr. Beyer directed his staff at USM and WHCS to reuse a single-user (one patient only) rectal pressure sensor on multiple patients as part of the PMR therapy. Additionally, the United States alleges that WHCS staff also reused a single-use (disposable, one use only) anorectal manometry catheter on multiple patients as part of an initial diagnostic study with patients with potential fecal incontinence. Both instances of reuse were inconsistent with the device clearance by the Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) and the devices’ instructions for use. Further, this reuse resulted in the adulteration and possible contamination of these devices.
In a separate Felony Information, the United States charges Ms. Wright with misprision of healthcare fraud and the adulteration of a medical device. The United States alleges that Ms. Wright knew that USM fraudulently billed Medicare for evaluation and management (“E&M”) services to patients on the same date of service as the PMR therapy, but she never informed authorities. The Felony Information against Ms. Wright similarly charges her with adulteration of a medical device, specifically the rectal pressure sensor in the manner described above for Dr. Beyer.
