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DOJ: Dermatology Providers Agree To Pay Nearly $850,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims
July 31, 2025
Forefront Dermatology S.C. and Henghold Surgery Center LLC, have agreed to pay $847,394 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly causing the submission of falsely coded claims to Medicare for wound repair procedures, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Forefront owns and operates a dermatology practice in Florida doing business as Henghold Dermatology. Henghold Surgery Center is an ambulatory surgery center that closed in 2023, and is wholly owned by William B. Henghold, M.D. Both the practice and surgery center performed wound repair procedures following Mohs micrographic surgery, a method of skin cancer removal.
The DOJ alleged that Henghold Dermatology and Henghold Surgery Center caused the submission of false claims to Medicare by using inaccurate wound repair billing codes for which Medicare paid more money than it would have paid for the wound repairs that were actually performed — a practice known as “upcoding.” Specifically, Henghold Dermatology and Henghold Surgery Center falsely coded linear repairs as if they were flap repairs and falsely coded smaller flap repairs as if they were larger flap repairs.
“Improperly billing Medicare depletes valuable government resources that provide necessary medical care to millions of Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable health care providers who enrich themselves by defrauding federal healthcare programs.”
Comments
6 Responses to “DOJ: Dermatology Providers Agree To Pay Nearly $850,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims”
Had a cancer removed from nose via MOHS. The procedure was awful. I could feel the scalpel the entire time. Not a tugging but straight up slicing feeling. They gave me a versed prior to procedure. That did absolutely nothing to mitigate pain. When i cried out they told me to be still so I would not get an accidental injury. They did a graft after. Also painful. They never did the follow up appointment to smooth out grafted area. They also did not remove all of the tumor. Im afraid to see any dermatologist now. Though I know I have multiple lesions I never want to have MOHS again. Anesthesia should be required for this especially on facial regions. I felt like I was a experiment in pain infliction and torment.
Had a MOH’s surgery done three a few years ago for a small speck on my face. The doctor kept chatting it up with the female assistant I told him to stop because the anesthesia shot wore off and I could feel him cutting a 50 cent piece size out of me.
They butchered a coworker of mine recently, sold him a song and dance of how his MOH’s would go so well and he would look fine. Nope. I seen so many White males over 50 at that practice, so many with big bandages from surgeries. There has to be better alternatives.
The first and only time I went there some women cut so much off me that I was glad to leave still a man. Told my G.P. about it and he told me that they were being investigated by the Feds. Guess he knew something I didn’t.
it is refreshing to see these scoundrels held accountable. Another practice they employed was double billing both the patient and Medicare for office visits and treatment. I wish the article read; fined and arrested rather than just fined.
Judging by my experience, Dermatology is the most corrupt branch of medical providers. I have an appointment to see a 6th doctor for a small basal cell carcinoma on my nose. Unless 5 of them didn’t finish medical school and therefore really don’t know what to do, they are bound to be corrupt and just string patients along to
have Medicare reimbursements and co-payments keep on coming.
You DON’T accidently upcode. It’s a deliberate effort. These people should pay and be fully charged with defrauding Medicare and the insured. People, be sure to look over every single statement. Unfortunately the World is full of dishonest people trying to boost their businesses JUST for the money. They don’t care about us. Be vigilant!