Federal officials this week charged Pamela Gardner, 53, and Torvis Gardner, 44, both of Springfield, Tennessee, and Dr. Donald Boatright, 70, of Nashville with with soliciting and receiving kickbacks in exchange for making referrals for the purchase of medical equipment, according to the FBI.
Gardner was part owner of Medical Necessities, a medical practice located in Springfield. Boatright was a physician who practiced at Medical Necessities while Gardner was an employee there, according to the indictment.
The trio are alleged to have conspired to solicit and accept cash kickbacks in return for referring patients, who were Medicare or TennCare beneficiaries, to a specific medical equipment supplier. Each has been charged with multiple counts of receiving cash kickbacks in exchange for medical equipment referrals.
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Gardner is accused of accepting or soliciting kickbacks amounting to $17,200; Torvis Gardner, $21,200; and Dr. Donald Boatright, $17,725.
Each could face up to five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and up to five years in prison for each count of receiving a kickback.
Investigating agencies include the FBI, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
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