She Billed for Care That Never Happened: Tennessee Doctor Admits to $11 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme — Reused Disposable Wound Supplies and Faked Patient Records for Nearly 4 Years
A Tennessee doctor has pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicare and other federal health programs out of millions of dollars through false billing practices, federal prosecutors said.
Helen Boerman, 48, of Brentwood, entered a guilty plea this week in federal court, admitting to a scheme that resulted in approximately $6.9 million in payments from Medicare. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10, 2026, and faces up to five years in prison.
According to court documents, Boerman, an optometric physician, used her practice, Brentwood Eye Care, to submit fraudulent claims over a period of about three and a half years. Prosecutors said she billed Medicare for wound care products that were either not used as claimed or improperly reused, despite being intended for single use.
“Eliminating fraud in federal programs and holding fraudsters accountable is among the highest priorities of the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Braden Boucek.
Investigators also found that Boerman billed for treatments on dates when patients did not receive services. In one example cited in court filings, claims were submitted for multiple treatment dates in May 2022, even though appointment records showed patients were only seen on some of those days. Authorities said Boerman directed staff to create false documentation to support the claims.
In addition to Medicare, Boerman admitted to submitting false claims to TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid program, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program between 2020 and 2024.
Prosecutors said Boerman billed Medicare approximately $11 million in total during the scheme and ultimately received about $6.9 million in reimbursements.
They Treated Patients Who Weren’t Sick: Utah Podiatrist, Nurse Practitioner, and RN Charged in $44 Million Medicare Fraud — Allegedly Performed Unneeded Procedures, Faked Records, and Skipped Copays to Maximize Profits
A Utah podiatrist and two nurses have been indicted on federal charges accusing them of defrauding Medicare out of tens of millions of dollars through allegedly unnecessary medical procedures, prosecutors said.
A federal grand jury in St. George charged Ryan Scott Ellsworth, 47, of Highland; Emily Kelly, 45, of Washington; and Drake Dell Broadbent, 55, of Santa Clara, with health care fraud and wire fraud. Ellsworth and Broadbent also face additional charges of making false statements related to health care matters. Their initial court appearance is scheduled for June 8, 2026.
According to the indictment, the three defendants are accused of submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare for skin substitute treatments between July 2021 and December 2025. Authorities allege many of the procedures were medically unnecessary or did not meet Medicare’s requirements for coverage.
Ellsworth owned and operated Summit Foot and Ankle, which had clinics across Utah, as well as another medical business. Kelly, a nurse practitioner, and Broadbent, a registered nurse, worked primarily at the company’s St. George location.
Prosecutors allege the defendants billed Medicare for skin substitute treatments on patients who did not have qualifying wounds or had not received the required prior course of wound care. They also allegedly continued treatments even when there was no medical benefit.
In addition, investigators claim the group did not seek required copayments from Medicare patients, which in some cases would have amounted to thousands of dollars. Authorities also allege that some procedures were performed by staff who were not qualified to provide them, while claims were submitted under Ellsworth’s provider credentials.
According to court documents, Ellsworth billed Medicare approximately $44 million for the procedures, resulting in more than $19 million in payments. Kelly allegedly billed about $17 million, leading to more than $10 million in reimbursements.
‘Cash for Pills, Then Death’: Connecticut Nurse Sentenced for Illegal Prescriptions — Five Patients Later Died of Overdoses After She Gave Them Adderall and Xanax for Cash
A Connecticut nurse has been sentenced after admitting to illegally prescribing controlled substances to patients without legitimate medical need, federal prosecutors said.
Michele Rene Muzyka, 61, of Cheshire, was sentenced in federal court in New Haven to one day in prison, which she has already served, followed by three years of supervised release. A judge also ordered her to pay a $25,000 fine and complete 100 hours of community service.
Muzyka, an advanced practice registered nurse, pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges related to the unlawful distribution of controlled substances.
According to court records, the investigation began after pharmacists raised concerns about Muzyka prescribing high doses of medications such as amphetamines and benzodiazepines to groups of patients who appeared to be connected. Some patients were reportedly picking up prescriptions for one another, and at least one pharmacist refused to continue filling prescriptions due to concerns about their legitimacy.
Authorities said that between January 2024 and June 2025, Muzyka prescribed drugs including Adderall and Xanax to individuals without conducting proper medical evaluations or confirming a legitimate need for the medications. She also charged patients cash fees of $200 per visit for prescriptions, including to an undercover agent posing as a Medicaid beneficiary.
Although Muzyka was enrolled as a Medicare and Medicaid provider, investigators said she declined to accept Medicaid for certain visits and instead required cash payments. Medicaid did, however, cover some of the prescriptions written during the investigation.
Investigators also found that five individuals who had received prescriptions from Muzyka between 2020 and 2023 later died from overdoses involving combinations of drugs, including fentanyl, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines.
Muzyka was arrested in June 2025 and later surrendered her licenses to prescribe controlled substances and practice as a nurse.
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