Columbia doctor indicted for allegedly lying to Medicare

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted a Columbia doctor on charges that he lied to Medicare by placing bogus orders for tests and medical equipment.

Jerry J. Bruggeman, 52, was indicted in a Kansas City federal courtroom on 13 counts of making false statements on Medicare orders, the U.S. attorney's office says in a news release.

The indictment also says Bruggeman should pay back nearly $30,000 to the government.

The charges stem from Bruggeman's time contracting with a Florida-based company that hires doctors to assess Medicare orders and sign them. He made $20 per assessment, the release says.

The indictment says that Bruggeman approved orders without evaluating the patient or taking other appropriate steps.

Bruggeman was not yet in custody and a hearing date has not been set, according to federal court records.

Websites list Bruggeman as a family physician.