FBI: Downers Grove Dermatologist Charged in Nationwide Medicare Fraud Takedown
Dr. Robert Kolbusz of the Center for Dermatology and Skin Cancer is accused of defrauding Medicare and private health insurance companies by submitting false claims for hundreds of patients.
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A Downers Grove dermatologist was charged Wednesday in a nationwide Medicare fraud sweep that involved 91 health care professionals and $429.2 million in false billing, officials announced Thursday.
Dr. Robert Kolbusz, 55, of Oak Brook, was charged in a seven-count indictment with defrauding Medicare and private health insurance companies by submitting false claims for hundreds of patients—resulting in millions of dollars in losses, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Kolbusz—who runs the of the Center for Dermatology and Skin Cancer, 3825 Highland Ave. in Downers Grove—is accused of falsely diagnosing patients with actinic keratosis, or sun-induced skin lesions, that have the potential to become cancerous, and then billing Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Aetna and Humana for treatments that were ineffective and falsely documented, according to the FBI.
"Between 2003 and 2010, Kolbusz allegedly falsely documented patients’ charts to support medically unnecessary, cosmetic treatments that he ordered," FBI officials stated in a release. "In some instances, he falsely documented the removal of more than 1,000 lesions from patients over several years of treatment."
Kolbusz was charged with four counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud, according to the FBI. The maximum sentence for mail and wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 maximum fine or an alternate fine totaling twice the loss or twice the gain, whichever is greater.
Kolbusz will be arraigned at a later date in U.S. District Court, according to the release.
The investigation into Kolbusz was coordinated by the FBI and the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). It was part of a nationwide takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in seven cities—an initiative started in 2007 by the HHS and the Department of Justice to deter fraud.
To date, the strike force has charged more than 1,480 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $4.8 billion, law enforcement officials said.
“Today’s enforcement actions reveal an alarming and unacceptable trend of individuals attempting to exploit federal health care programs to steal billions in taxpayer dollars for personal gain,” U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a press release. “Such activities not only siphon precious taxpayer resources, drive up health care costs and jeopardize the strength of the Medicare program—they also disproportionately victimize the most vulnerable members of society, including elderly, disabled and impoverished Americans.”
Also charged this week was Sharon A. Rinaldi, a licensed psychologist in Illinois.
Rinaldi, 57, of Inverness, was charged with five counts of health care fraud for submitting thousands of false claims for providing psychotherapy services to Medicare beneficiaries residing in skilled nursing homes in the Chicago area, according to FBI officials.
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Village of Downers Grove
801 Burlington Ave, Downers Grove, IL -
Center for Dermatology & Skin Cancer
3825 Highland Ave, Downers Grove, IL
DG Guy
7:45 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
It's funny how President Obama mentioned cracking down on Medicare fraud in the debate Wednesday and then Thursday morning the FBI announces arrests. Cracking down is a great idea but coordinating it with an election campaign, not so much.
Patricia
8:21 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
are you suggesting Pres. Obama knew about this impending arrest in DG and brought it up during the debates??? really
Tony Cesare
9:28 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
@Patricia-reliable sources have informed me that Obama has been seen at Emmett's several times in the last few months. I suspected he was stealing a beer recipe for the White House Honey Ale but now we know better...
DG Guy
9:19 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
The arrest in Downers Grove was part of a nationwide bust. They arrested 91 people across the country. Yes obviously the president knew about this. He mentioned it in the debate and I thought it odd because politicians have been talking about reducing Medicare fraud for 15 years and have never done anything substantial. Then the next day...Pow.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57526201/feds-charge-91-in-massive-medicare-fraud-scheme/
DG Guy
10:02 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
BTW - My wife worked on a medicare fraud project for the state of Kentucky in the 90's. People would set up a medical transport company then hire gang bangers to go door to door paying elderly people for their social security numbers. Then they'd create fake claims against medicare for pretend trips to the doctor using the SS #. Evenutaly they would get either get sloppy or would run out of social security numbers and they'd start billling for 7 or 8 trips a day for the same person. The fraud detection project was getting up to speed and then the state cancelled it. Never found out why but it was really frustrating because there seemed to be a lot of low hanging fruit (easy to prosecute cases.)
Sara
9:25 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
I personally know Sharon Rinaldi, and it serves her right.
Frank Caliendo
10:26 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
I hope Kolbusz get 20 years
DG Female
12:34 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
I agree. I went to this dr. and was told I had skin cancer and pre-cancerous lesions last summer. I had 3 separate surgeries.
Tom Hiben
11:57 am on Saturday, October 6, 2012
This issue is Not about the 2 different Parties; it's about the rampant GREED in this country!!
Wake Up People and lets call this what it is and stop making it about the election....
If we continue to blame others instead of looking at the facts clearly; this nation will never be corrected!! N
DG Lady
3:57 pm on Saturday, October 6, 2012
I'm so happy I stopped being a patient of yours years ago! Kolbusz I have one word for you KARMA guess you shouldn't have been such a cocky jerk. Now you'll have more then enough time to work on the bed side manner of yours.
JOHN
5:35 pm on Sunday, October 7, 2012
WOW DG LADY.. I AM A PATIENT OF DR. KOLBUSZ AND HE HAS DONE GREAT NECESSARY WORK ON ME. NO SCARS AND AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS. HE EVEN DISCOURAGED ME FROM HAVING A MOLE REMOVED THAT DIDNT SEEM TO NEED REMOVAL. kARMA>? ME THINKS NOT.. ME THINKS YOU ARE A FIRED EMPLOYEE WHO HAS NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN SIT AROUND AND CALL THE OFFICE BECAUSE YOU ARE SUCH A LOSER AND A CRAZY WOMAN.
Kathy Mc
8:02 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
i Agree with DG Lady. I hope Dr. Kolbusz gets what he deserves. I am NOT an ex employee, only a very unhappy patient that was treated very unfairly. KARMA is correct and i HOPE he gets 20 years for his dishonesty !!!! This was brought to the attention of Good Samaritan Hospital and all they told me to do was write a letter regarding what he was doing to patients and they would put it in his records. Kind of poor on their part.. Oh well, IT caught up with him !! AND DG Lady.. Yes, NOW he will have lots of time to work on his bedside manner. He is nothing but a coward
jen
8:08 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
Haha Dr. Jeckel finally gets what he deserves! Serves him right for being dishonest!!!!!! Also I am not an ex- employee either Mr. John I am a former patient!!!!!! This a**hole, cut and left several scars on my mother that was completely unneccessary as well as doing serveral treats to myself that were not needed!!!! He left my mother with rosacea for not doing her facial treatments properly!!!! I am SOOOOOO GLAD that this has finally caught up to him!!!! KARMA always come back to those who deserve it and this is one person who def. deserves this.
Mom13
11:17 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
Why go through all that schooling, hard work and end up in a cell for the rest of your life? SO SAD!
spice
11:20 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
I agree - no one is above the law. Doctors take a code of ethics - some get lost and those are the ones that serve the jail time.
This is a story about two brothers - one good apple and one very bad apple.
Nick
8:20 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I was a patient of his about 6 or 7 years ago and had some fatty, scar tissue on my forehead that I had this dip_ _ _ _ take a look at and evaluate. (Had it removed by a GREAT dermatologist in Tinley Park), he actually wasn't too bad too me (bedside manner wise besides the 1 hour wait) but was ADAMANT I PAY my $25.00 co-pay, when all I had was a credit card with me (I didn't bring cash and said can you just send me the bill I will gladly mail you a check,(I GOT A STAUNCH NO!) Found that in itself to be "odd" that they won't even see if you don't pay a $5 copay. So maybe this was before he started his MEDICARE FRAUD SCAM and got rich.
It is a shame that I received a ticket for driving on a suspended license and was sentenced to 120 days in jail and 2 years probation in DuPage County. This guy will probably get no more than 3 years in a cushy fed joint (like Madoff) with a salad bar, get conjugal visits, get a $250,000 and that 429 million is long gone, so he will file bankruptcy and do everything under his wife's name, etc...
I really hope that karma gives him the maximum for what he has done to these poor people, making them think they have cancer, not to mention the POISONOUS DRUGS they had to put in their bodies. Whatever happened to GOOD DOCTORS THAT REALLY CARED FOR PEOPLE HEALTH AND WELL BEING AND THRIVED OFF OF HELPING PEOPLE? Shame on 90% of doctors and pharmacists who just write scripts and pass out pills now a days (all for some material things).
Nick
11:28 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
John, keep your theories about others & DG LADY "Me thinks you are either the dumb f-ing family, friend, acquaintance of this portly, short, pathetic, dreadful, disgusting piece of waste on this earth. He literally told people they were dying and scared them to the point that they would die if he did not do these (bogus surgeries).
As far as I am concerned he should get a life sentence and think I will start a petition on change.org to help me get some signatures and get the world to know about this disgusting man gets a life term. He ruined people's lives and I will say a prayer for these people. I prey they are all healthy, happy, and get some justice and money from this pig in an upcoming lawsuit.
lbarksdale
11:45 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
listen dick, sorry meant nick... you obviously are much classier that that Dr. STARt PREYING AS YOU PUT ITLook at your writing you dumb f-ik / HAS TO BE EX EMPLOYEE. GET a f-ing life and how about you find something better to do with your time. YOU ARE A MORON and you should get a life sentence for being a MORON You are a JOKE and you probably have zits you disgusting pathetic dreadful disgusting waste on the earth. ANd you were probably a WASTE IN THE OFFICE or you probably STILL are and sit on your arse all day doing squat. Or MAKING PETITIONS THAT you are your 2 friends will sign. If you arent too drunk from the night before. and what are you preying about Look at you spelling you dumb fk. You are a pig. in fact you are pig sh_t / In fact you smell like a pig. You look like a pig you eat like a pig you f like a pig you have a pig up your hole you live like a pig you work like a pig oink oink No you are a MORON PIG I am still laughing at you and so is EVERYONE ELSE you pig . Jump in a frying pan and become bacon Or wrap yourself in wool and YOU ARE NOW A PIG in a BLANKET. Or stuff yourself with quarters and you are a PIGGY BANK Or just be yourself the biggest pig on EARTH go get your petition have your 2 friends with your IQ sign it. That will get you everywhere you MORON Are you on CRACK ? Too many vicadins? Too much VODKA ? Check yourself into BETTY FORD they could use a new fat pig
Aimee
12:00 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
OMG! I just found this and I was diagnosed with Keratosis from Doctor Kulbutz and he removed it and there now is a big scare.The thing was only the size of a pin prick and left me with a scar about an inch long across the middle of my chest?