Prince George’s Podiatrist Sentenced for Medicaid Fraud and Theft

BALTIMORE, MD ( September 15, 2009) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that podiatrist Edward M. Horvath, 51, of Laurel, was sentenced to five years incarceration with all but 14 months suspended for billing the Medicaid and Medicare programs for services that were never provided. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Timothy J. Doory ordered the 14 months to be served on home detention, restitution and penalties in the amount of $400,000, five years of unsupervised probation, and 200 hours of community service

In March, 2009, Horvath pleaded guilty to felony Medicaid fraud and felony theft, admitting that he repeatedly billed the Medicaid and Medicare Programs for services that he never provided and for more expensive procedures than he actually performed. For example, Horvath repeatedly billed for invasive surgical procedures when he merely cut the patients’ toenails. He was charged in Baltimore City because the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where he submitted bills for treating Medicaid and Medicare patients, is located in Baltimore City.

The case was investigated by Attorney General Gansler’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in conjunction with the Office of Inspector General, Health and Human Services.