Festus Doctor and His Company Plead Guilty to Health Care Fraud

St. Louis, MO – Antoine Adem, M.D., 49, of Festus, MO, and his company, Midwest Cardiovascular, Inc., plead guilty to their involvement in a healthcare fraud scheme. Adem appeared in federal court before U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig who accepted the guilty pleas and set sentencing for November 19, 2019.

According to court documents, from January 2014 to December 2018, Dr. Adem and Midwest Cardiovascular submitted or caused to be submitted numerous false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid. The reimbursement claims falsely indicated that Dr. Adem performed two vein procedures on patients on two different days, when he actually performed the two procedures on the same day. As a result, Dr. Adem and Midwest Cardiovascular received about $2000 more per patient than he would have received if he had informed Medicare and other insurers that the two vein procedures were performed on the same day. As a result of these fraudulent claims, Medicare paid Dr. Adem and Midwest Cardiovascular $149,199, more than they were entitled to receive.

Adem faces a penalty up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Midwest Cardiovascular faces a fine of $500,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dorothy McMurtry is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.