Podiatrist Allegedly Steals $174,000 from Insurance Company

Trying to line her pockets with some extra insurance money, this Podiatrist is caught red-handed.

By Lydia Richins, Marketing —

Seven Felony Counts

In recent news, Renae Witt who is a podiatrist (a foot and ankle doctor) was charged with seven felony counts of insurance fraud. Prosecutors believe she is responsible for illegally billing Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Cross/Blue Shield for over $174,000. The insurance companies claim she billed under several patients names for medical services she never performed.

Up to 16 Years in Prison

The podiatrist had been submitting false claims starting in 2015. Renae was finally caught after she moved from Orange County, California to Oregon. Anthem Blue Cross had been tipped off to her fraudulent claims and contacted the District Attorney’s office in Orange County. Witt will be extradited to California to face charges in this insurance fraud case. If found guilty, she could face up to 16 years in prison.

Future Prevention

To protect their businesses, insurance companies could annually screen medical personnel who regularly bill them with Converus’® IntegrityDetect™. This 6-8 minute test could point out people who have a higher probability of committing crimes such as insurance fraud. If a practice were to fail a test, the insurance companies could be on alert for fraud, saving them time and money.

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Photo by / Brina Blum