A Central Kentucky pharmacist has admitted to filing false claims for more than $100,000 in Medicaid payments.
Justin T. Bell pled guilty in federal court on October 10 to one count of making a false statement in connection with a federally sponsored health program payment.
According to his guilty bargain, Bell, the owner of Georgetown Pharmacy at the time, solicited “unwitting” Medicaid enrollees in March and April 2020 to get an expensive medication called a Siltrex pad, which is intended to reduce or prevent scars after burns, surgery, or injuries.
The Kentucky Medicaid program paid pharmacists $14,827.66 for a box of 12 Siltrex pads at the time, according to court records.
At Bell’s request, the pharmacy filed claims for eight boxes of the pads, resulting in Medicaid payments totaling $118,621.
The plea deal said that the claims were inaccurate and ineligible for reimbursement since they were not for medically essential purposes.
According to the document, several of the recipients did not even utilize the pads.
U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove set Bell’s sentencing date for February.
The crime is punishable by up to ten years in jail, although Bell’s sentence will most likely be reduced under recommended federal guidelines.
Bell committed to repay at least $118,621 to Medicaid.
