Doctor convicted in fraud case

A Yakima physician convicted of eight counts of health-care fraud is scheduled to be sentenced in March, U.S. District Court officials said Monday.

Dr. Rosa M. Martinez was convicted late last week after a jury trial. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on charges related to two other health fraud counts and four drug distribution counts.

The jury returned no verdicts on three additional fraud counts and two additional drug distribution counts, which may be set for retrial.

Martinez faces a maximum possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The 55-year-old medical doctor was accused of over-billing Medicare, Medicaid and Washington State Labor and Industries health-care benefit programs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Harrington, who handled the prosecution, said the case was part of an “ongoing emphasis on health-care fraud investigations in the Eastern District of Washington.”

The over-billing by Martinez occurred between June 2002 and June 2004, leading to her indictment on federal Medicare fraud charges.

Medical providers in the region will be investigated and prosecuted if they bill health-care programs for medical services not rendered, Harrington said.