4 Doctors Accused of Paying for Patients Surrender to Police

Four doctors accused of paying for patients as part of a $1.3-million client-referral scheme surrendered to Los Angeles police Wednesday.

Drs. Ronald Perelman of Woodland Hills, Robert Glazer of Beverly Hills, Vladimir Golovchinsky of Encino and Philip Lichtenfeld of Studio City were booked on one felony count each of conspiracy and paying for patient referral. Lichtenfeld was also charged with possession of cocaine and methamphetamine that police allegedly found while searching his office for evidence of illegal referrals.

According to Los Angeles Police Detective Jim Murawski, the four were charged as part of an 18-month investigation into workers’ compensation and health insurance fraud.

Charged last month in the case was Dr. Karl Epstein of Tarzana, who was charged in January with paying for referrals and submitting false bills to insurance companies.

Police say the physicians participated in a scheme allegedly run by Debra Mattes of Woodland Hills. According to a complaint filed against her in January, Mattes compiled a directory of doctors who were willing to pay for patients, and circulated it to personal injury and workers’ compensation attorneys.

In an amended complaint filed Wednesday, Perelman is accused of paying Mattes $39,925 from January, 1987, to May, 1990. Lichtenfeld is accused of paying $73,454, Glazer $41,500 and Golovchinsky $41,500.

Perelman, Glazer and Golovchinsky were released on $10,000 bail each, and Lichtenfeld was released on $25,000 bail. Perelman is scheduled to be arraigned Friday and the others today.