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I have been a long time reader but this is my first time posting because I have a serious question that I need all your help with. Pls answer freely and if this question has been discussed before, I apologize.
I practice in Canada and I am a podiatrist (DPM) trained in US. I have a nice small practice. I get referrals from MDs and walk-ins.
Recently a "orthotic store" has opened up down the street from me. These are not health professionals, they are not orthotists or pedorthists. They are not doctors. They have a store which to the best of my knowledge foam casts patients for orthotics. I cannot say for certain if fraud occurs, i.e. are they giving shoes instead of orthotics.
Suddenly my patient visits at my office started increasing after the store opened. I got all these walk-in patients requesting to be seen by me, a podiatrist and they would all fill out my office forms stating that they have foot pain in the heel or arch or wherever and they would like to see me.
Sometimes the entire family of 4 comes (the entire family coming for a foot exam happens a lot with this group of people). My numbers in addition to my regular practice are now 50 patients a week who just want a foot exam and script for orthotics. I tell them what is wrong and all they want is a prescription for orthotics. I recommend something else like physiotherapy or cortisone injection or surgery or even do nothing but no, all these patients want are a prescription for orthotics. Sometimes their problems are mild and sometimes they are severe, but whatever the problem (bunion, hammertoes, tendonitis) all they want is a script.
So far I have obliged and these people then take my script and I think they go to this store and get orthotics. In fact I know all these 50 people a week come from this store. Maybe they dont get orthotics and this is some scam.
By seeing these walk-in patients and giving them a prescription, am I committing orthotic fraud?
Pls help. I dont know what to do. Should I screen these patients out and no longer see them?
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