Doctor and Office Manager Convicted for Kickback Conspiracy
Doctor and Office Manager Convicted for Kickback Conspiracy
A federal jury convicted a Pennsylvania doctor and office manager for an incentivized prescribing scheme involving injured federal workers and Medicare beneficiaries.
A federal jury convicted a Pennsylvania man and woman on September 21, 2022, for a scheme to pay and receive kickbacks in exchange for the referral of prescription medications.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven J. Valentino, 65, of Haverford, and Michele Miller, 53, of Swarthmore, a doctor and his office manager, respectively, participated in an incentivized prescribing scheme involving injured federal workers and Medicare beneficiaries. Valentino and Miller received kickbacks for referring, ordering, and arranging for medications – including expensive compound medications – to be filled by a Houston pharmacy. Between May 2013 and July 2017, the pharmacy billed the Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (DOL-OWCP) and Medicare approximately $2.5 million and was paid approximately $1.1 million for prescriptions referred, ordered, and arranged by Valentino and Miller in exchange for illegal health care kickbacks.
Valentino and Miller were both convicted of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and each was also convicted of two counts of receiving health care kickbacks.
Approximate date(s) of the diversion:
05/01/2013
Where the Diversion Occurred:
Valentino Spine and Orthopedics: Liberty Spine Care
700 S Henderson Rd #110, King of Prussia, PA 19406, USA
Type of Healthcare Facility:
Hospital
Person Diverting:
Steven J. Valentino and Michele Miller
Profession of the person diverting:
Physician or Medical Doctor (MD)
Has the incident been reported?
e.g. to local law enforcement, county board of health, state licensure board, and/or federal DEA or FDA authorities?
Yes
To whom has the incident been reported?
Other Reporting Organization(s)
