Board of Podiatric Medicine

Press Coverage

Consumer Health Digest
February 19, 2002

Podiatry Fraud Investigation Becomes Murder Probe

By Stephen Barrett, M.D.

Ronald Mikos, D.P.M., a Chicago podiatrist under investigation for Medicare fraud, has been charged with two counts of obstruction of justice in connection with the case. According to reports in the Chicago Tribune:
  • Federal agents have been investigating Mikos's Medicare billings for 1995-2000, a period during which he billed more than $1 million for foot operations, including more than 600 operations for just six patients.
  • The prosecutors say Mikos had been urging potential grand jury witnesses not to cooperate in the fraud probe. A search of Mikos's car turned up "scripts" on coaching patients how to respond if investigators questioned them about the alleged Medicare fraud scheme. In one, Mikos advised the patients, many elderly, to stop the questioning by pretending not to feel well, authorities said
  • One whom Mikos had contacted was Joyce Brannon, a former patient for whom he allegedly billed for 85 nonexistent surgeries.
  • Brannon was found shot to death in her apartment Jan. 27. Federal prosecutors say Mikos is the top suspect; he denies any involvement in the murder.

Sources: O'Connor M. Prosecutor links fraud probe to Edgewater death, Chicago Tribune, Feb 11, 2002; and Doctor denied bond in tampering: Podiatrist tied to ammunition. Chicago Tribune, Feb 12, 2002.

Note: Ronald Mikos has held a California license since 1982. If he is convicted and incarcerated as a result of the above charges, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine will have grounds to file an Accusation seeking revocation of his license and an immediate automatic suspension order that will remain in effect until the outcome of the revocation proceeding.

For information on this podiatrist's California license, click here