Doctor found guilty of charging Medicare more for Botox than any other provider in the US

Minnesota Fraud Mastermind to Be Sentenced in $250 Million Scheme

In a recent discussion on the “Outnumbered” panel, Emily Compagno and her colleagues talked about the Minnesota coronavirus fraud case, where Amy Bock is due for sentencing in a $250 million fraud scheme. This situation has raised concerns regarding the lack of awareness or cooperation from state authorities in relation to federal investigations, prompting calls for accountability from notable figures like Kayleigh McEnany and J.D. Vance.

In a separate but related case, a doctor from California has been found guilty of committing fraud. Violetta Meilhan, 45, was convicted for submitting over $45 million in false Medicare claims for Botox injections. The Justice Department reported that she funneled the money into a lavish lifestyle, including extravagant vacations and purchases like a $12,000 17th-century crossbow.

Meilhan, who ran Healthy Way Medical Center in Glendale, was found guilty of nine charges of wire fraud and three counts of obstructing a criminal investigation. An analysis from the Department of Justice’s Healthcare Fraud Division revealed that she received an astonishing $24 million from Medicare within four years for Botox treatments. This amount was six times more than her nearest competitors, all neurologists, highlighting her extreme outlier status.

Authorities outlined how, alongside conspiring to defraud Medicare, Meilhan fabricated medical records to mislead investigators. Her center billed for Botox injections that were either unnecessary or never given. Strikingly, some claims were made for supposed injections on days when she was actually vacationing in places like Cabo, Maui, Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, and New York. In other instances, the clinic was closed, or patients were in federal custody.

Generally, Medicare only reimburses for Botox when it’s used to treat chronic migraines. However, Meilhan claimed payment for thousands of injections that either weren’t offered, were purely cosmetic, or were given without proper medical justification. Interestingly, she labeled herself on social media as a “Botox filler non-surgical nose beautician.”

To cover her tracks, prosecutors noted that she falsified patient documents, including consent forms, attempting to create a facade of legitimacy regarding the treatments being given. Some claims were allegedly backdated, with patients charged before they even contacted the clinic.

Using the funds acquired from this scheme, prosecutors indicated that Meilhan funded extravagant vacations and acquired luxury items, including a $3,000 painting and the aforementioned crossbow. In the wake of her convictions, a jury ruled that various assets, including vehicles and properties in California, were proceeds of the fraud and subject to forfeiture.

Facing significant penalties, Meilhan could be sentenced to up to 20 years for each wire fraud charge and up to five for each obstruction charge. A date for sentencing has yet to be determined.