Posted: October 9, 2014 - 2:28pm
By By STUART KORFHAGE
stuart.korfhage@staugustine.com
The Florida Attorney General’s Office served search warrants on two St. Augustine medical clinics Thursday as part of an investigation into Medicaid and health care fraud.
According to the search warrants, documents were sought for Medi+M.D. offices at 167 Palencia Village Drive Suite 101 and 600 South Plantation Island Drive Suite 1. The clinics are owned in part by St. Johns County Commissioner Bill McClure, who is named in the search warrants.
According to his most recent financial disclosure form filed with the state, McClure is a shareholder in Medi Companies. On the form, the value of Medi Companies is listed at $500,000. McClure reported that he was paid $12,000 by Medi Companies in 2013.
His total ownership is not provided on the form. He indicates only that he owns more than 5 percent of the company.
Whitney Ray, press secretary for the Office of the Attorney General, would only confirm that the warrants were served Thursday morning.
“The warrants are part of a criminal investigation and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time,” Ray said in an email.
A statement from St. Johns County administration said there was no involvement by county officials in the investigation.
“St. Johns County had no prior knowledge of this ongoing investigation, and has not been contacted by the Attorney General’s Office related to this matter,” said Michael Ryan, St. Johns County Communications Manager, in an email.
According to the warrants, the potential charges — both state and federal — stemming from the investigation include: health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, Medicaid Provider fraud, grand theft, falsifying a death certificate and practicing medicine without a license.
No arrests were immediately reported.
Among the materials sought by investigators were: Medicaid and Medicare billing documents, all prescription medications (along with containers and prescription pads), all financial records relating to the office as a Medicaid and Medicare service provider, all information related to the office stored on computers or other digital storage devices and other documents.
Only McClure and Paula Stowell are named in the warrants, although it also mentions “any other person unknown” who might have been occupying the premises.
Calls to McClure were not returned Thursday.
Officials surround Medi M.D., a behavioral wellness center in Palencia, on Thursday.
1 comment:
By God Ed Slavin sunk this guy like an inflatable Walmart kiddie boat. Outta there you asshole!!!
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