An Illinois chiropractor was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for defrauding Medicare and a dozen other insurance companies out of millions of dollars. Carrie Musselman, 48, from Eureka, received a 20-month prison term on June 24 after a jury found her guilty of healthcare fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud.
Authorities revealed that Musselman carried out a scheme over several years that stole more than $2.5 million. She submitted false insurance claims, saying that medical doctors provided services that were actually done by mid-level providers. This false information led to higher payments she was not deserved.
In some cases, Musselman claimed patients received allergy injections when they did not. Instead, they were given unapproved oral drops that had not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and were considered experimental. These drops had not been shown to work.
At the sentencing hearing, a senior federal judge heard the details of the case, which was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI. The government was represented by assistant U.S. attorneys in court.
Officials stressed that submitting false claims damages the trust and integrity of the federal healthcare system. Musselman was also ordered to pay back over $2.3 million as part of her sentence.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges in protecting public healthcare funds from fraud and abuse, and the serious consequences for those who break the law.