Psychologist Hubert Dolezal Indicted in $3.2M Medicare Fraud Scheme

February 1, 2019

A Chicago, Illinois-based clinical psychologist was charged in an indictment filed on Jan. 3, for his participation in a health care fraud scheme involving approximately $3.2 million in allegedly fraudulent claims billed to Medicare for psychological counseling and psychological testing for severely mentally disabled adults that was never actually performed.

Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey S. Sallet of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office made the announcement

Hubert Dolezal, Ph.D., 78, of Chicago, was charged in an indictment filed in the Northern District of Illinois with 15 counts of health care fraud.  

According to the indictment, from December 2012 to June 2018, Dolezal allegedly engaged in a scheme to bill Medicare for psychological counseling, psychological testing and neuropsychological testing of severely mentally disabled adults living in community-based housing.  The indictment alleges that Dolezal defrauded Medicare through submission of claims for services that were never performed, and for services performed on a routine, rather than an as-needed basis.  The indictment also alleges that Dolezal was also double-paid for services, collecting payment from Medicare and the organization running the community-based housing.

The indictment alleges that Dorezal submitted approximately $4.4 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, and that Medicare paid a total of approximately $3.2 million on those claims.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.    

This case was investigated by HHS-OIG and the FBI.  Trial Attorney Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country.  Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion.

Source: “Chicago-Based Clinical Psychologist Charged in $3.2 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme That Allegedly Exploited Mentally Disabled Patients,” press release of U.S. Dept. of Justice, January 28, 2019, URL: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/chicago-based-clinical-psychologist-charged-32-million-health-care-fraud-scheme-allegedly