Milwaukee doctor charged federally with health care fraud

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee doctor has been federally charged with 13 counts of health care fraud.

44-year-old Dr. Cully White is a doctor of osteopathic medicine, and the owner/operator of Dr. Cully R. White, Neurosurgery & Spine, SC in Milwaukee.

A federal indictment alleges from November 2010 through October 2011, White carried out a scheme to defraud health insurance companies. As part of his scheme, White allegedly recruited another physician to dictate reports, making it appear the second physician had conducted inter-operative nerve monitoring during surgeries performed by White.

The second physician had no training or experience in, nor did he conduct inter-operative nerve monitoring during White's surgeries.

The indictment further alleges White paid the second physician $150 for each report he dictated. White then used the reports prepared by the second physician to submit claims to insurance companies seeking payment for the second physician's services.

According to the indictment, White submitted claims to insurance companies, totaling more than $265,000, and ultimately received approximately $82,000. White paid the second physician a total of $14,850 for dictating the reports.

Each of the charges against White contained in the indictment carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or both.