The former owner and operator of Pain Medicine of York (Pa.) was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $3 million in restitution for his role in a scheme involving medically unnecessary urine drug tests for opioid patients, according to an April 24 news release from the Justice Department.
What happened?
- Rodney Yentzer continued to operate a non-compliant urine drug testing scheme despite repeated warnings and maintained the practice until Pain Medicine of York was raided and shut down in November 2019.
- Mr. Yentzer had assumed control of the practice from John Johnson, MD, following Dr. Johnson’s incarceration. Although no longer practicing, Dr. Johnson remained closely involved, advising Mr. Yentzer on clinic operations and playing a key role in initiating the fraudulent urine testing protocols.
- Between 2017 and 2019, Medicare was billed more than $10 million for these unnecessary tests and paid out over $4 million.
- Proceeds from the fraud were used to fund lavish personal purchases, including a $37,000 Rolex watch, a diamond ring worth over $40,000, multiple luxury vehicles, and a $1.3 million home, later sold to help satisfy restitution payments.
- Additionally, in April 2020, Mr. Yentzer improperly accepted more than $191,000 in federal stimulus funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, intended to support healthcare providers impacted by COVID-19, despite having resigned from PMY the month prior and the clinic being closed since late 2019.
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