MT: Dr. Thomas Weiner, insurance defrauder and possible medical serial killer

[airportwoman]

This ProPublica story was probably in the pipeline long before the UHC CEO was gunned down, but regardless, Dr. Thomas Weiner set up shop in remote Helena, Montana and called himself an oncologist even though he was not board-certified. He had a cult-like aura about him, and may have "diagnosed" cancer in people who didn't have it, and given inappropriate treatments. People were afraid to blow the whistle because of his perceived influence, and hospital administrators and others weren't asking too many questions, because he was bringing so much money into the city.

Finally, someone DID rat him out, and it looks like he even killed patients, with overdoses of phenobarbital, when they OR THEIR PARENTS (in one case described here) started asking too many questions. The story is lengthy, but worth a read. Hang on tight.

Are there any WSers from the region who have local insights?

A Hospital Helped a Beloved Doctor’s Practice Flourish Even as It Suspected He Was Hurting Patients

Hailed as a savior upon his arrival in Helena, Dr. Thomas C. Weiner became a favorite of patients and his hospital’s highest earner. As the myth surrounding the high-profile oncologist grew, so did the trail of patient harm and suspicious deaths.

www.propublica.org

 

[LadyL]

I was just reading about this guy. Crazy story.

 

[jasmine112]

Yeah! That's crazy story!

 

[Deleted member 83851]

My god what a story. My hair almost stood on end especially about the young girl with a pleural effusion and the insane amount of painkillers others were given. Got to be a psychopath no?

 

[Lisbeth_S]

This story is appalling.
I am speechless.

Would love to know why he is not being criminally prosecuted.

 

[airportwoman]

This story is appalling.
I am speechless.

Would love to know why he is not being criminally prosecuted.

Bribery, perhaps?

 

[mickey2942]

I actually know quite a bit about this. But I will refrain from this discussion, for personal reasons.

 

[Marie A]

“Evidence of that high-volume business was hiding in plain sight, in data published by CMS. An analysis of Medicare Part B billing data shows that, from 2013 to 2020, Weiner billed for 40,000 15-minute visits, more than any other doctor — of any specialty — in the nation. The publicly available data offers just a glimpse of what St. Peter’s knew was a much bigger problem. “He’d see 15 patients in 30 minutes,” LaClair told me. This made Weiner rich and apparently missed the gaze of insurance regulators.”

All IMHO

ON THE ABOVE BASIS ALONE-
HE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY BE PROSECUTED FOR MEDICARE FRAUD IN A FEDERAL COURT AND HE SHOULD BE JAILED IF FOUND GUILTY.

Disgusting and laughable to bill Medicare 40k 15 minute visits in 7 years- more than any other doctor in the nation-WTH- seeing 15 patients in 30 minutes at times- OBVIOUS MEDICARE FRAUD that’s 5714 patients per year - which is 15 patients a day every single day including during his long vacations.
An average physician works 250 days a year so that’s 23 patients a day he’s billing Medicare for. How do you see 23 complex oncology cases in one day on the reg by yourself? You don’t. HE HAS DEFRAUDED MEDICARE. And what about his cases that WERE NOT Medicare cases? Squeeze all those in too - possibly more per day than his Medicare cases and the math doesn’t math.

NOT EVEN MENTIONING HIS EGREGIOUS GOD COMPLEX AND HORRIFYING BEHAVIOR
He needs to be locked up as a warning to any other doctor who would ever decide to defraud Medicare in such a self serving and greedy manner.

This case makes me really sick. Corrupt and immoral to the hilt.
This guy wasn’t simply billing Medicare for unnecessary tests or equipment- he was billing Medicare for unnecessary drugs and treatments that significantly altered and shortened lives. DR WEINER NEEDS TO BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW and ASAP

 

[Lisbeth_S]

Bribery, perhaps?

Serious possibility.

I just cannot believe that no one across all the possible levels of criminal justice (local and federal) is beyond the reach of this guy's god complex.

My sympathies go out to the patients and families he has horrendously wronged (and I bet there are so many who don't even realise it yet).

 

[airportwoman]

The Murdaugh family sure found this out the hard way over the past few years! This guy probably will, too.

 

[legalmomma]

Report details allegations of malpractice, suspicious deaths against influential Helena oncologist

A new report by investigative news nonprofit ProPublica centers on allegations of misconduct by one of Montana’s most influential doctors. Oncologist Thomas Weiner saw thousands of patients at St. Peter’s Health in Helena for two dozen years before the hospital fired him in 2020.

www.mtpr.org

McSwane joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy to talk about his two-year investigation.

...
Amestoy: David, before I let you go, I did want to ask you one more thing here. Could you update us on the status of Weiner's wrongful termination suit and whether or not there are any other lawsuits or investigations ongoing that you know of?

J. David McSwane: Yeah, it's a little bit of a black box, because law enforcement, their default is to provide no comment. But, Dr.. Weiner sued Saint Peter's for wrongful termination and defamation. That case was thrown out in district court and he's appealed to the state Supreme Court. There is a separate issue where he sued one of his former colleagues who had raised questions about patients, and that continues. He's also, since in August, I believe, he was sued by the U.S. attorney's office for, essentially, fraudulent billing — prescribing more narcotics and treatments than were necessary or needed. And he has, through his attorney, filed a motion to dismiss that case and has said the federal government has no basis.