Middle Tennessee Podiatrist Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud

Dr. Charlton Peter, 59, of Lewisburg, Tenn., pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of health care fraud, announced David Rivera, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. 

In a plea hearing before U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr., Peter, a podiatrist, admitted that he submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid seeking reimbursement for procedures that were never performed.  In particular, Peter admitted that he submitted false claims seeking reimbursement for performing nail avulsions, a procedure covered by Medicare, when he merely provided his patients with routine foot care, including clipping patients’ toenails, which is not covered by Medicare.

If convicted, Peter faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of health care fraud.  Peter will also be ordered to forfeit $122,691 representing the proceeds from his fraud.  Peter will be sentenced by Judge Crenshaw on March 3, 2017and his sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.                

The case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Unit. The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski.