Press Releases
LOCAL PSYCHIATRIST CONVICTED OF FEDERAL HEALTH CARE FRAUD
April 17, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DR. MARIA CARMEN PALAZZO, age 56, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was convicted last night of 39 counts of health care fraud by a jury in Federal Court, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to testimony presented during the twelve day trial, DR. PALAZZO defrauded Medicare in connection with services she did not render to patients in a Psychiatric Partial Hospitalization Program at Touro Infirmary. DR. PALAZZO also defrauded Medicare by submitting false and fraudulent invoices to Touro Infirmary for consulting and medical director services.
DR. MARIA CARMEN PALAZZO faces a possible maximum term of imprisonment of 390 years, fines of $9,750,000, $3,900 in special assessments and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
Mike Fields, Special Agent in Charge for Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General stated,
“Today, Dr. Palazzo heard from this jury what health care providers who defraud Medicare are hearing from juries all over America, you will be held accountable for your greed. HHS-OIG agents will continue to work closely with our state and federal law enforcement partners to protect the Medicare Trust Fund.”
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Patrice Sullivan and Sharon Smith.
