Houston Man Misrepresenting Himself as a Psychologist Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Fraud

Edward Birts of Houston has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud after receiving nearly $1 million from Medicare and Medicaid for behavioral counseling despite being unqualified to provide such services, according to a report by the Houston Chronicle.

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Mr. Brits claimed to hold a doctorate in psychology but actually had purchased a degree online. From Jan. 2003-Sept. 2006, he operated a counseling company called Courage to Change, where he billed Medicare and Medicaid $1.2 million for services he never provided, using beneficiary information he had obtained. He received an estimated $968,500 on the claims.

Mr. Brits faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the charge.

Read the Houston Chronicle‘s report on Edward Birts.

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