February 09, 2016
A registered nurse, who took part in, what the United State's Attorney's Office called a "multimillion-dollar fraud on Medicare" was found guilty Monday on four counts of health care fraud.
A federal jury found Patricia McGill, 68, of Philadelphia, guilty of four charges, though she was acquitted of a conspiracy charge and nine other counts of health care fraud.
In a statement released Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, law enforcement officials said McGill served as director of professional services for Home Care Hospice – formerly located at 1810 Grant Ave., and later 2801 Grant Ave, in Northeast Philadelphia – between 2005 and 2008.
In her time there, McGill "authorized and supervised the admission of inappropriate and ineligible patients for hospice services, resulting in approximately $9.32 million in fraudulent claims," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
The owners of that hospice, Matthew Kolodesh and Alex Pugman, were convicted separately of related offenses.
According to law enforcement officials, while in operation, Home Care Hospice billed Medicare for hospice services provided to patients at nursing homes, hospitals, and private residences. However, investigators determined many Home Care hospice patients did not meet the Medicare criteria for hospice care.
A jury found that the company billed Medicare for hospice care that was not provided to the patients.
McGill is set to be sentenced at a May 16 hearing. She faces 33 to 41 months in prison and fines.
