Man Gets 3 Years for Penis Pumps Billed to Medicare
Gary Winner's penis pump scam was anything but a winner. In fact, it was a big fat loser, landing him in jail for a little over 3 years.
The Illinois medical device salesman pleaded guilty to health care fraud, selling a misbranded medical device in interstate commerce and money laundering in November, but his sentencing date was earlier this week. Federal authorities had accused him of carrying out a $2.2 million Medicare fraud scheme.
He billed the healthcare agency for re-branded penis pumps, claiming the devices treated erectile dysfunction and diabetes.
The first part of Gary Winner's penis pump scam involved duping men suffering from diabetes, explains the Associated Press. He convinced patients to provide their Medicare information in exchange for free medical supplies. He would then bill Medicare an exorbitant rate.
Those devices included cheap penis pumps purchased from online sex shops. Winner repackaged and shipped them to the patients, claiming they helped "bladder control, urinary flow and prostate comfort."
He told Medicare they had nothing to do with diabetes, but instead treated erectile dysfunction. But according to Medicare, the penis pumps "served no medical purpose."
You hear that men? Cheap penis pumps are useless.
The "cheap" part is really where Gary Winner's penis pump scam went wrong. Medicare will pay for most "medically necessary" products that treat erectile dysfunction. The program has even been known to pay for penis pumps. The difference is that those penis pumps were prescribed by a physician. And are worth more than $26.
Related Resources:
- Defendant gets 3 yrs. in fraud plea (WPRI)
- Medicare Fraud: 111 US Doctors, Nurses Arrested (FindLaw Blotter)
- Judge Who Used Penis Pump in Court Loses His Pension (FindLaw's Legally Weird)