A Houma chiropractor faces up to 10 years in prison in connection with a multi-million-dollar Medicare fraud and kickback scheme.
Patrick Haydel, 57, who has run a Barrow Street practice for more than 25 years, pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, according to papers filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans.
HealthPro, a company Haydel owns, received nearly $14 million between 2018 and 2021 in the scheme, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says in its complaint. Haydel personally made $2.8 million of that money.
Haydel is alleged to have paid out more than $7 million worth of kickbacks for authorizations from medical doctors for back braces, neck braces and other forms of medical equipment that were not medically necessary but were billed to taxpayers through Medicare, court papers show.
Source: Houma chiropractor Patrick Haydel pleads guilty in $14 million Medicare fraud scheme / Houma Today