GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
Jurors found a 59-year-old physician Ona M. Colasante, guilty of 162 counts of health care fraud where the evidence indicated that he intentionally misdiagnosed patients and did unnecessary medical tests, according to officials.
Colasante, of Gainsville, Florida, faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the counts of conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for July 25 in federal court.
Colasante owned and operated medical businesses known as the Hawthorne Medical Center in Hawthorne, Florida.
“The Medicare system relies on doctors to diagnose and treat beneficiaries,” stated Shimon Richmond, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “When doctors intentionally misdiagnose patients, perform unnecessary tests and procedures, and use non-FDA approved drugs and devices on patients for personal gain, they betray the trust of the Medicare system and the patients themselves.”
According to the evidence, these are the facts and circumstances surround this case:
Colasante owned and operated medical businesses known as the Hawthorne Medical Center in Hawthorne, Florida, between 1998 and March 2009, and the Colasante Clinic in Gainesville, Florida, between January 2010 and January 2013.
Through these businesses, Colasante defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida through a series of false billing schemes.
At trial, the government presented evidence that Colasante, and employees acting at her direction, ordered non-FDA approved drugs at a drastically reduced price, administered them to unsuspecting patients, and then fraudulently billed insurance companies for the cost of FDA-approved drugs.
The evidence showed that Colasante also billed insurance companies for medically unnecessary tests and submitted false diagnosis codes in support of her fraudulent claims for reimbursement.
In addition, Colasante billed insurance companies for counseling, treatment, and training that was never performed. Her businesses repeatedly submitted fraudulent billings for smoking-cessation treatment purportedly administered to patients who were non-smokers.
“Health care programs and patients depend on ethical practices from medical providers,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher P. Canova. “I commend the diligent investigators and prosecutors who uphold our federal laws and bring to justice those who abuse their positions of trust.”