Denise Hardy Press Release (Guilty Plea)

March 13, 2009
For Immediate Release

LOCAL PODIATRIST PLEADS GUILTY TO HEALTH CARE FRAUD CHARGES

St. Louis, MO: Dr. Denise Hardy has pled guilty to health care fraud charges in connection with false billing to Medicare and Medicaid, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced today.

According to court documents, Dr. Hardy created false statements on podiatric examination forms and other medical records for submission to Medicare and Missouri Medicaid for podiatric services that she provided from 2000 through 2005. Dr. Hardy, DPM, was a licensed doctor of podiatry and was a participating Medicare and Medicaid provider.

From 1998 to 2005, Dr. Hardy was employed at South St. Louis Orthopedic Group, Inc., and received an annual salary of $55,000 and 50-60% of the monthly billed revenue over $12,000.

Hardy provided services to patients at the offices of South St. Louis Orthopedic Group, Inc., Lafayette Habilitation, several nursing homes and at senior service centers at St. Alexius Hospital and St. Anthony’s Medical Center.

As part of the scheme to defraud Medicare and Missouri Medicaid, Dr. Hardy falsely stated in her treatment notes that 20 Lafayette Habilitation Center patients (who are unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair or geri-chair) cannot walk without pain and had pain when walking that restricted their activities. Due to these false statements, Medicare and Medicaid paid claims that normally would not have qualified for reimbursement.

DR. DENISE HARDY, St. Louis, Missouri, pled guilty to one felony count of health care fraud. She appeared before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton. She now faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000, when she is sentenced on May 29, 2009.

Hanaway commended the work performed on the case by Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General and Assistant United States Attorney Dorothy McMurtry, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI CATHERINE L. HANAWAY United States Attorney	NEWS RELEASE
For further information: Call Public Affairs Officer Jan Diltz at (314) 539-7719
March 13, 2009 For Immediate Release LOCAL PODIATRIST PLEADS GUILTY TO HEALTH CARE FRAUD CHARGES St. Louis, MO: Dr. Denise Hardy has pled guilty to health care fraud charges in connection with false billing to Medicare and Medicaid, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced today. According to court documents, Dr. Hardy created false statements on podiatric examination forms and other medical records for submission to Medicare and Missouri Medicaid for podiatric services that she provided from 2000 through 2005. Dr. Hardy, DPM, was a licensed doctor of podiatry and was a participating Medicare and Medicaid provider. From 1998 to 2005, Dr. Hardy was employed at South St. Louis Orthopedic Group, Inc., and received an annual salary of $55,000 and 50-60% of the monthly billed revenue over $12,000. Hardy provided services to patients at the offices of South St. Louis Orthopedic Group, Inc., Lafayette Habilitation, several nursing homes and at senior service centers at St. Alexius Hospital and St. Anthony’s Medical Center. As part of the scheme to defraud Medicare and Missouri Medicaid, Dr. Hardy falsely stated in her treatment notes that 20 Lafayette Habilitation Center patients (who are unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair or geri-chair) cannot walk without pain and had pain when walking that restricted their activities. Due to these false statements, Medicare and Medicaid paid claims that normally would not have qualified for reimbursement. DR. DENISE HARDY, St. Louis, Missouri, pled guilty to one felony count of health care fraud. She appeared before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton. She now faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000, when she is sentenced on May 29, 2009. Hanaway commended the work performed on the case by Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General and Assistant United States Attorney Dorothy McMurtry, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.