Greenwich Psychologist Billed For Dead Patients In Insurance Scam: Feds

GREENWICH, CT — Michael Lonski, a 71-year-old Greenwich psychologist, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty Monday before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to health care fraud, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery.

Health care fraud carries a maximum prison term of 10 years, Avery noted. Lonski is released on bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for March 10, 2023.

Lonski is a licensed psychologist, who has practiced out of a home office in Old Greenwich with another licensed psychologist identified only as "Individual 1," according to court documents and statements made in court.

Lonski and Individual 1 were authorized providers for the Connecticut Medicaid program, Medicare and other health care benefit programs.

"Lonski assumed responsibility for submitting claims for reimbursement for services allegedly provided by himself and by Individual 1, both at their home office and at various skilled nursing facilities within Connecticut," Avery said in a news release.

In pleading guilty, Lonski admitted that he billed insurers for services that he knew were not rendered, including by billing for patients who were deceased, for dates of service when he was out of the country, for dates of service when Individual 1 was out of the country, and for dates of service when he was hospitalized, Avery explained.

These fraudulent claims resulted in a loss of over $2,651,296, including a loss of $1,157,292 to the Connecticut Medicaid program and a loss of $119,092 to Medicare., Avery said.

As part of the latest plea, Lonski has agreed to pay full restitution.

In 2002, Lonski settled a federal lawsuit alleging health care fraud offenses, which was brought by the government in the Southern District of New York, Avery said. Lonski agreed to pay $4 million in restitution and was excluded from participating in the Medicare program from April 2003 to November 2007.

He was reinstated to the Medicare program in approximately December 2008, Avery said.