Doctor indicted in Medicare fraud case

Kim Smith

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999 | 9:58 a.m.

A California doctor was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday for allegedly submitting more than $130,000 in fraudulent claims to Medicare.

According to the indictment, in July 1993 Dr. Douglas Hamilton opened the Nail Clinic in Las Vegas and began advertising for Medicare patients who suffered from onychomycosis, a toenail and fingernail fungus.

Although onychomysis treatment isn't normally covered by Medicare, if it's caused by diabetes or heart disease Medicare considers it medically necessary and therefore pays for it.

Hamilton, the indictment says, submitted claims to Medicare claiming to have done patient follow-up exams and various treatments when he had not.

Between July 1993 and March 1994, the government claims Hamilton fraudulently billed Medicare for about $132,000.

Hamilton was indicted on eight counts of mail fraud for sending the bills through the mail, one count of theft of government property and three counts of money laundering.