Texas Doctor Sentenced to 11 Years for Power Wheelchair Scheme

HOUSTON–A Texas physician has been sentenced to 11 years in
prison and must pay $14 million in restitution for his role in a
power wheelchair scam that led to the creation of Operation Wheeler
Dealer, a massive crackdown on Medicare fraud and abuse.

Dr. Anant Mauskar, 73, was convicted in November on 20 counts of
health care fraud and one count of conspiracy (see HomeCare
Monday, Nov. 21, 2005).

During the trial, prosecutors said that from 2001 to 2003,
Mauskar submitted false claims for Medicare beneficiaries
unlawfully referred to him for power wheelchairs. Several
beneficiaries testified that Mauskar did not examine them and that
tests were performed before they even saw the physician. In the
scheme, Mauskar billed Medicare for more than $13 million and was
paid $1.6 million.

Prosecutors also said Mauskar signed forms falsely claiming he
personally evaluated and supervised physical therapy and evaluation
services in 1999 and 2000. He received payments of $500 a month for
signing patient charts so owners of physical therapy clinics who
participated in the scheme could bill Medicare and Medicaid.

After the fraud scheme came to light in September 2003, CMS and
HHS’ Office of Inspector General announced Operation Wheeler
Dealer, a 10-point initiative aimed at curbing fraud and abuse of
the Medicare power wheelchair benefit. The federal campaign
included aggressive scrutiny of power wheelchair claims,
particularly in the Houston area.