Podiatrists Are Now Physicians (Not In a Good Way)

Podiatry may have finally achieved its “parity” as physicians according to a recent issue of Becker’s Orthopedics. The article entitled, “New York physician sentenced for $11M fraud scheme”, details a former New York podiatrist who allegedly illegally distributed opioids, possessed an illegal firearm, and engaged in a nefarious scheme to defraud Amtrak’s health care plan. He will be incarcerated for 32 months and needs to repay almost $3M.  For more information on this story:https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-coding-billing-and-collections/new-york-physician-sentenced-for-11m-fraud-scheme/?origin=OrthoE&utm_source=OrthoE&utm_medium=email&utm_content=newsletter&oly_enc_id=2558E3860112B6W

The fact that this article appeared in a mainstream orthopedic publication, recognizing a podiatrist as a physician even though he engaged in criminal activities, may be a huge step forward.

There are two lessons here: Even bad publicity is sometimes good, and even within a bad story some good may be learned. Any negative story about podiatry should not be something we should enjoy reading. Most of us feel that as a small profession (or specialty, depending on who you talk to) we are more under the microscope. If you look hard enough you just won’t see that podiatry is any more targeted than any other physician.

Reading the weekly and daily HHS and OIG blogs, one will learn that podiatrists are far from leading the pack, percentage wise, in conducting nefarious billing schemes. All honest and ethical providers should be upset by stories of unethical billing practices no matter what the professional degree of the health care provider. There are unfortunately many negative stories about fraud conducted by MDs/DOs/NPs in all the different Becker’s forums. This is the first one I can remember where a podiatrist was not only named as a principal defendant but also simultaneously given the physician title.  

A few weeks ago another Becker’s forum named DPMs, along with other MDs/DOs, in nefarious use of Cellular Tissue Products, but the podiatrist was not designated as a physician.

Now the real question is will Becker’s shine podiatry more in a positive light when reporting on career choices, salaries, and all the other subject matter their forums cover? In the past they simply did not. 

Do you agree that even though this is a negative story about a podiatrist, perhaps there is a win here we can enjoy? I am interested in hearing what others have to say.

—Paul Kesselman, DPM