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.

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Dr. Charles DeHaan of Housecall Physicians Group, Arrested on Charge of Health Care Fraud

A local physician whose license was suspended this month was arrested on a federal complaint alleging health care fraud. Charles S. DeHaan, 59, of Belvidere, Illinois, was charged with engaging in a scheme to defraud Medicare. The complaint alleges that as a part of the scheme, DeHaan operated Housecall Physicians Group of Rockford, S.C., located in Rockford. The charge alleges that DeHaan submitted false claims to Medicare in December 2013.

In support of the charge, the complaint alleges that between 2010 and 2013, DeHaan billed Medicare for medical services that he did not provide to at least five patients. Instead, DeHaan engaged in sexual misconduct with four of these patients, all women, and offered or provided prescriptions for controlled medications, according to the complaint affidavit.

DeHaan appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Iain D. Johnston, who ordered that he be held in custody until a detention hearing is conducted.

The charge 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.

The charges were announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert J. Holley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Lamont Pugh, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG)

The federal case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, with the assistance of the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The government was represented in federal court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolm G. McKenzie.

The public is reminded that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to indictment by a federal grand jury and, if indicted, to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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