Dr. Charles DeHann Indicted on Charges of Health Care Fraud

A suspended Rockford physician was indicted this week by a federal grand jury on charges of healthcare fraud. Charles S. DeHann, 59, of Belvidere, Illinois, was charged with nine counts of engaging in a scheme to defraud Medicare.

The indictment alleges that DeHaan, a physician licensed in Illinois, and president of Housecall Physicians Group of Rockford, South Carolina, treated numerous patients at Rockford-area assisted living facilities and, as a physician, had access to patients and patient records. The indictment alleges that, from January 2013 through January 24, 2014, in order to enrich himself, DeHaan submitted false claims to Medicare for reimbursement for medical services that DeHaan provided to patients in their homes. As part of the scheme, DeHaan allegedly obtained patient information of Medicare beneficiaries through his affiliation with and privileges granted to him at various Rockford-area assisted living facilities, without the knowledge or consent of the patients. It is also alleged that DeHaan billed for medical services purportedly provided to patients whom DeHaan never actually treated and billed routine visits with Medicare patients at the highest levels of in-home care when he knew that his visits with these patients typically did not qualify for such billing.

In addition, DeHaan allegedly billed for medical services provided to patients when he knew he did not provide any reimbursable medical service. For instance, on multiple occasions, DeHaan billed Medicare for medical services purportedly provided to patients, when DeHaan’s visit with the patient involved no medical care and instead involved DeHaan’s having sexual contact and attempting to have sexual contact with a patient and making sexual advances toward a patient, according to the indictment.

DeHaan was initially charged with federal health care fraud last month when he was arrested on a criminal complaint.

Each count of health care fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and full restitution. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.