A Slidell chiropractor has pled guilty to charges of health care fraud after being accused of a scheme involving over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits. Dennis Michael Peyroux, 57, entered his plea last Wednesday, admitting to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. This follows an investigation uncovering that Peyroux and his conspirators purchased Medicare beneficiary information and used them falsely to bill Medicare through his clinic, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Monday, Peyroux began to purchase Medicare information in November 2022, which included names, Medicare IDs, and even fabricated recordings of individuals purportedly requesting COVID-19 test kits. The scheme led to Peyroux billing Medicare for test kits that were neither requested by beneficiaries nor eligible for reimbursement. He then went on to improperly use the credentials of a former nurse practitioner at his clinic to support the fraudulent claims. Peyroux's conviction now forces him to pay over to repay $3.2 million to Medicare and face possible incarceration.
The investigation, praised by U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, revealed that Peyroux fraudulently billed Medicare around $3.3 million, out of which $3.2 million was reimbursed. The government has also seized over $1 million from Peyroux's bank accounts. "United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DENNIS MICHAEL PEYROUX (“PEYROUX”), age 57, of Slidell, Louisiana, pled guilty on January 8, 2025 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud," according to the official U.S. Attorney’s Office release.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, of the Financial Crimes Unit and Health Care Fraud Coordinator, and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters, of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Peyroux is set to be sentenced on April 23, and could potentially face up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine which could total $250,000 or double the amount defrauded. He will also have to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. "The government also forfeited over $1 million seized from PEYROUX’s bank accounts," the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
