HICKORY, N.C. — A Hickory family practice doctor duped Medicaid and Medicare out of at least $210,000, according to court documents filed in September 2015.
Prosecutors charged Wayne Vincent Wilson of Wayne Wilson MD Family Practice with submitting claims to Medicaid and Medicare for services he didn't provide.
Wilson was sentenced to 18 months in prison May 2, 2016. He was also ordered to serve one year of supervised probation and pay $208,112.58 as restitution to Medicaid and $2,148.08 to Medicare.
Investigators claim Wilson "added and padded" his reimbursement with false claims because he believed that Medicaid did not pay him enough for his services.
Prosecutors said in some instances Wilson "fabricated entire office visits," according to documents. In other cases he is accused of claiming he performed services on actual patients that never actually happened.
Wilson would not comment when reached by phone Tuesday afternoon.
A woman who said she used to work for Wilson told Eyewitness News she was stunned to hear the news. She asked not to be identified.
"He was a great guy, he went over and beyond his call of duty for his patients," she said.
Federal court records show a plea agreement has been reached between Wilson and prosecutors.
Prosecutors will seek a stiffer sentence because Wilson "abused a position of trust," according to documents.
The charges are not Wilson's first brush with trouble.
Wilson faced discipline in 2009 after alleged issues involving methadone treatments, according to North Carolina Medical Board records.
In documents, the medical board found Wilson's practice began a patient on a "potentially lethal dose" of methadone.
Wilson was ordered to take medical courses and was later deemed safe to practice, according to records.
Wilson's license remains active. A spokesperson for the state medical board couldn't comment directly on Wilson. However, she said in cases when doctors are charged with fraud, the board will run a separate investigation and determine the punishment.
The punishment could range from suspension to a revoked license depending on the circumstances of the case and the licensee's disciplinary history.
To report Medicaid fraud to the Attorney General's Office, click here.
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