A Columbia, Mo., physician pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements relating to a healthcare matter. Jerry Joseph Bruggeman, MD, 53, pleaded guilty before US Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr. to one count of making false statements relating to a heath care matter. In early 2020, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, became aware of a report that a Medicare beneficiary had been invoiced for a medical service purportedly performed by Bruggeman, even though the patient indicated he had never heard of Bruggeman. Investigation determined that in January 2019, Bruggeman had ordered genetic testing for this patient, for whom a laboratory submitted 26 claims to Medicare.
Further investigation revealed that between January 2018 and December 2019, Bruggeman referred over 3,100 orders for cancer and pharmacological genetic testing and durable medical equipment such as orthotic braces. The orders referred by Bruggeman affected over 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries and resulted in over 8,700 claims being submitted to Medicare for payment. Genetic testing orders signed by Bruggeman had resulted in Medicare Part B paying a total of $1,055,303. Additionally, claims for durable medical equipment under Medicare Part B had resulted in $551,105 in Medicare payments. In total, Bruggeman’s orders for genetic testing and durable medical equipment caused Medicare Part B to pay a total of $1,606,408.
