PHILADELPHIA – Stephen A. Monaco, D.P.M., 59, of Broomall PA pleaded guilty to health care fraud today for perpetrating a $5 million scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid and four private victim insurance companies, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.
In a hearing before United States District Court Judge Juan Sanchez, Monaco admitted that he had committed the fraud using his practice, A Foot Above Podiatry, Inc. (“A Foot Above”), located in Havertown PA. Between January 2008 and October 31, 2014, Monaco submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid and four private victim insurance companies for podiatric procedures that were not provided, and podiatric procedures that were not performed, including injections, debridement (removal of dead, infected or foreign material to promote wound healing) and nail avulsions (removal of the entire or partial nail plate).
Monaco faces 10 years in prison, $5,000,000 restitution, substantial fines and criminal forfeiture. In addition, as a condition of his plea, Monaco surrendered his DEA license. Sentencing is set for November 30, 2016.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General, and the United States Railroad Retirement Board Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys M. Beth Leahy and Jennifer B. Jordan.