Licensing Board Suspends Physician
Who Fraudulently Billed Insurance Providers
NEWARK - The State Board of Medical Examiners yesterday suspended the license
of a Freehold-based physician after the doctor pled guilty to the criminal
charge of theft by deception for falsely billing Medicare, Horizon Blue Cross
and the Aetna Insurance Company.
Dr. Fredric Feit in December, 2008 admitted to billing for fluoroscopic guidance
when performing paraspinal nerve block procedures when he in fact had not used
fluoroscopic guidance. He agreed to pay $578,978 in restitution in the criminal
matter.
The Board of Medical Examiners, which licenses physicians working in New Jersey,
voted to suspend Feit's license for five years. The first two years will be
an active suspension, with the remainder to be served as a period of probation.
The suspension begins on August 7 to allow patients time to find another physician.
“Dr. Feit broke the law when he submitted false billing for his own profit. He violated the trust of his patients and the Board made the right decision in suspending his license,” Attorney General Anne Milgram said.
Before he can apply for reinstatement of his license, the Board is requiring Feit to successfully complete a Board-approved ethics and medical billing course and to comply with the restitution order from his criminal case. If reinstatement is granted, the Board will impose license restrictions to prevent Feit from controlling billing during the period of probation.
“Dr. Feit's actions clearly were unprofessional and unethical and cannot go unpunished. Our licensing Boards are disciplinary bodies and the Boards will act when licensees violate the rules and regulations that the Boards enact and enforce,” said David Szuchman, Consumer Affairs Director.
Deputy Attorney General Tara Adams Ragone represented the state in this matter.
Consumers can submit complaints against physicians through the Board's web site at http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/bme/bmeform.htm or by calling the Board directly at 609-826-7100.
