Doctor Pays $1.5 Million to Settle Medicare Fraud Allegations

A doctor has paid the U.S. government $1.5 million to settle civil allegations that he defrauded Medicare, prosecutors said Wednesday.

The case against Dr. David Yedidsion was believed to be the largest prosecuted involving false bills submitted to Medicare for home visits.

From January 1992 through May 1995, Yedidsion, a 48-year-old general practitioner, was the single largest biller of home medical services in the country, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Maurice Suh.

Last month, in a separate criminal case, Yedidsion pleaded guilty to 10 counts of mail fraud and two counts of making false statements to the Small Business Administration. He is expected to receive about 30 months in prison when he is sentenced in September, officials said.

In the civil case, Yedidsion admitted that he falsely billed for treating patients who were either dead, in prison or in cities far from Los Angeles. Additionally, he admitted to loan fraud against the SBA for making false statements on a disaster loan application after the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Because of the false billings, Medicare paid Yedidsion about $311,000, according to a statement released by the U.S. attorney’s office.