Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Robert Tassin, M.D., a 64-year-old doctor from Slidell, Louisiana, has been charged with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. The charges relate to an alleged scheme to bill Medicare for unnecessary cancer genetic tests.
The bill of information claims that Tassin worked as an independent contractor for several telemedicine companies. From February through September 2019, he allegedly signed orders for CGx tests for Medicare beneficiaries without ever having seen or treated them. These actions reportedly led to over $6.6 million in fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare, with more than $2 million reimbursed by the program.
To support and conceal the fraud, Tassin is accused of making false statements in medical records, falsely certifying the necessity of the CGx tests. It is also alleged that he received payment per doctor's order reviewed and signed, typically $30 each, amounting to a total of $106,757.
Simpson emphasized that these charges are merely accusations and that Tassin's guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Tassin could face up to ten years in prison and three years of supervised release. Additionally, he may be fined up to $250,000 and required to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
Simpson commended the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General for their work on this case. Trial Attorney Kelly Walters from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses are leading the prosecution.