NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Tennessee doctor has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in a scheme that led to more than $41 million in fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare, federal authorities announced.
Dr. John R. Manning, 64, of Ashland City, admitted to signing medically unnecessary prescriptions and orders in exchange for illegal kickbacks while working with multiple telemedicine companies between June 2016 and April 2019.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee, Manning’s fraudulent orders—often made without any meaningful interaction with patients—resulted in over $41 million in claims to Medicare. The federal health program paid more than $19 million of those claims. Manning personally received over $812,000 in bribes and kickbacks as part of the scheme.
“This doctor ignored his oath to help people and bilked the taxpayers out of almost $20 million,” McGuire said. “Now he faces accountability for his actions and the taxpayers get some justice for being taken advantage of.”
The orders covered durable medical equipment (DME), topical creams, and cancer genetic (CGx) tests, many of which were not medically necessary and were issued with little to no direct patient interaction.
Manning, who was indicted in July 2022 on one count of conspiracy and eight counts of health care fraud, pled guilty to the conspiracy charge in August 2023. He was sentenced last week and ordered to pay $19,780,565.44 in restitution to Medicare, as well as $812,303.41 in criminal forfeiture.
Officials say the scheme is part of a broader crackdown on fraud in telemedicine and kickback arrangements that abuse taxpayer-funded health care programs.
“Health care fraud is a crime that hurts all of us and drives up health care costs,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify, investigate, and bring to justice the criminals who, driven by greed, manipulate the system for personal benefit.”
The investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office, with assistance from the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Levine and Trial Attorney Kathryn Furtado of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Fraud Section.
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