State moves to suspend doctor's license after FOX6 investigation

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee doctor with a long history of complaints is now facing possible suspension, after a FOX6 hidden camera investigation exposed the doctor's misleading practices.

John Lanham is a Milwaukee-area podiatrist with a past record of fraudulent billing and an ongoing record of patient complaints.

Five months after FOX6 caught him misleading patients on hidden camera, the state is finally moving to suspend his license, and one state lawmaker wants to keep it from happening again.

For years, patients have complained to state regulators that the Milwaukee podiatrist ripped them off -- sticking them will bills of $5,000 to $10,000 for a single visit.

When FOX6 News tried to talk to Dr. Lanham about those complaints, he wouldn't respond.

Lanham has racked up dozens of complaints for excessive billing and for misleading patients about insurance coverage.

Now, state Assemblyman Fred Kessler is drafting legislation that would require podiatrists, and possibly all physicians, to disclose up front if they are in a patient's insurance network or not.

On Tuesday, July 30th, the Podiatry Board is scheduled to consider a summary suspension of Dr. Lanham's license. That would prohibit him from practicing until a final decision on discipline can be determined.

The Podiatry Board meets in Madison at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Kessler says he is still working on changes to his bill and hopes to have something ready to introduce soon.