Dr. James Carthron, a 61-year-old doctor from Saginaw, is facing 23 counts of Medicaid Fraud—False Claim, confirmed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. If convicted, he could face up to 4 years in prison and/or fines up to $50,000 for each count, according to the Department of Attorney General.
Dr. Carthron, who ran the now-closed PRN Urgent Care, is accused of billing Medicaid for phone visits that did not happen between May 31 and September 27, 2024. These alleged frauds were found after a review of his billing records. Nessel said, "Millions of Michigan residents rely on the Medicaid program for their healthcare services, and we must defend it from fraud and bad actors," as reported by the Department of Attorney General.
Carthron was arraigned in the 54B District Court before Judge Molly E. Hennessey Greenwalt and was granted a $50,000 personal recognizance bond. A probable cause conference is scheduled for August 22, and a preliminary examination is set for August 28. The case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division, which receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and 25% from the State of Michigan, with federal and state contributions for 2025 totaling $5,703,460 and $1,901,152, as stated by the Department of Attorney General.
