Florissant Doctor, Nurse Practitioner Charged in Health Care Fraud

A doctor, clinic and nurse practitioner in Florissant have been charged for multiple incidents of healthcare fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office of Eastern Missouri.

For a three-year period, Dr. Mel Lucas, Robyn Levy and Patterson Medical Clinic falsified billing statements for services not given and falsified information in patients’ records, according to a news release from the office. 

Between 2008 and 2011, the clinic and Dr. Lucas billed private insurance companies, Medicare and Tricare for more X-rays than were actually taken, according to the news release. In addition, the clinic and he billed for services when he was in Mexico or out of town in more than 570 incidents.

Dr. Lucas, the clinic and Levy also billed insurance companies for a FDA-approved drug when patients were given a non-FDA-approved drug that he bought for hundreds less from Canada.

Dr. Lucas, 60 of Florissant, and the clinic, located at 2175 Charbonier, face eight felony counts of health care fraud and seven felony counts of false statements related to health service. Levy, 57, has been indicted on two felony counts of health care fraud and three felony counts of false statements related to health service.