Guilty Pleas Entered in Medical Equipment Kickback Scheme

The owner of a Tennessee medical practice is among several people who have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving kickbacks for medical equipment referrals (United States v. Gardner, M.D. Tenn., No. 3:15-cr-00191, guilty plea 5/17/17).

Pamela Gardner, owner of Springfield, Tenn.-based Medical Necessities, pleaded guilty May 17 to accepting cash kickbacks for causing patients to be referred to Air Affiliates, a Nashville-based medical equipment provider. Among the patients she referred in exchange for at least $15,000 in cash were Medicare beneficiaries.

Gardner faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 when she is ...