Psychiatrist Paying $3M to Resolve False Billing Allegations

A Philadelphia psychiatrist and his wife agreed to pay $3 million to resolve allegations that they billed the federal workers’ compensation program for services that were not performed, US Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams’ office announced.

Federal prosecutors accused Dr. Harry Doyle and his wife, Sonya, of violating the False Claims Act by submitting bogus bills, as well as billing twice for the same service and billing for more expensive services than were actually performed.

The settlement is the largest recovery from a psychiatrist in the history of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, according to a press release by the US attorney’s office. Under the agreement, the Doyles also agreed to be excluded from federal health care programs for 25 years. The couple did not admit wrongdoing.

The US attorney’s office said an attorney referred federal employees to Doyle’s practice for mental health services that were purportedly needed because of an initial physical injury covered by the federal workers’ compensation program. Sonya Doyle was the doctor’s office assistant and sole employee of his mental health practice.

The Doyles allegedly billed for cancelled and no-show appointments as if they actually occurred and billed for more therapy time than was actually spent with the patient, the office said. Dr. Doyle also allegedly falsified treatment records to reflect the false billing that was submitted.

False bills were submitted from January 2013 through April 2021, according to the settlement agreement.

“The alleged falsified documentation Dr. Doyle created and submitted to OWCP compromised the agency’s ability to monitor claimant care and ensure that injured federal workers received the services they needed,” Williams said in a press release.

Syretta Scott, special agent in charge for the Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General, said the agreement will deter others from committing fraudulent billing schemes.

The settlement agreement requires the Doyles to cooperate with the federal investigation into false billings. The $3 million payment agreed to includes $1,763,709 in restitution.

Pennsylvania Medical Board records show that Doyle has been a licensed physician since 1972. He treats patients at his home in Philadelphia, according to the settlement agreement.