NEWARK
– The State Board of Medical Examiners
yesterday suspended the license of a Freehold-based
physician after the doctor pled guilty to
the criminal charge of theft by deception
for falsely billing Medicare, Horizon Blue
Cross and the Aetna Insurance Company.
Dr.
Fredric Feit in December, 2008 admitted to
billing for fluoroscopic guidance when performing
paraspinal nerve block procedures when he
in fact had not used fluoroscopic guidance.
He agreed to pay $578,978 in restitution in
the criminal matter.
The
Board of Medical Examiners, which licenses
physicians working in New Jersey, voted to
suspend Feit’s license for five years.
The first two years will be an active suspension,
with the remainder to be served as a period
of probation. The suspension begins on August
7 to allow patients time to find another physician.
“Dr.
Feit broke the law when he submitted false
billing for his own profit. He violated the
trust of his patients and the Board made the
right decision in suspending his license,”
Attorney General Anne Milgram said.
Before
he can apply for reinstatement of his license,
the Board is requiring Feit to successfully
complete a Board-approved ethics and medical
billing course and to comply with the restitution
order from his criminal case. If reinstatement
is granted, the Board will impose license
restrictions to prevent Feit from controlling
billing during the period of probation.
“Dr.
Feit’s actions clearly were unprofessional
and unethical and cannot go unpunished. Our
licensing Boards are disciplinary bodies and
the Boards will act when licensees violate
the rules and regulations that the Boards
enact and enforce,” said David Szuchman,
Consumer Affairs Director.
Deputy Attorney General Tara Adams Ragone
represented the state in this matter.
Consumers
can submit complaints against physicians through
the Board’s web site at www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/bme/bmeform.htm
or by calling the Board directly at 609-826-7100.
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