Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a suburban physician was found guilty of defrauding the state out of more than $1.2 million in Medicaid funds.
The Attorney General’s office prosecuted Dr. William McMiller, 69, of Oak Park, Illinois, who was found guilty on Friday by a Cook County jury of theft of government property by deception and theft of government property by unauthorized control, each Class X felonies punishable by six to 30 years in prison, and vendor fraud, a Class 1 felony punishable by four to 15 years in prison. McMiller is facing a maximum of 30 years in prison as the sentences will be served concurrently. McMiller’s bond was revoked, and he was immediately remanded into custody at the Cook County Jail. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 29.
“Millions of Illinoisans – seniors, children and families – rely on Medicaid to obtain their health care,” Raoul said. “It is unconscionable a physician who is charged with providing care would take advantage of patients and the people of Illinois. I will continue to work in collaboration with our state government partners to identify and hold accountable the individuals who steal from this critically-needed program for personal financial benefit.”
McMiller is a licensed physician who owns Dr. Bill’s Learning Center, which has two locations, one in Chicago and one in Oak Park. The centers offer tutoring services to children, as well as clinical therapy and psychiatric services. Dr. McMiller’s niece – Jonise Williams, 39, of Matteson, Illinois – handled the billing at Dr. Bill’s Learning Centers. Together, McMiller and Williams submitted numerous claims to Illinois’ Medicaid program for psychotherapy and medical services that were not provided.
Jonise Williams previously pleaded guilty to vendor fraud and was sentenced to probation.
The Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit opened an investigation after receiving a referral from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Office of the Inspector General. The HFS Office of the Inspector General raised an allegation of fraud against McMiller based on an abnormal number of service hours that he billed each day. In addition, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services assisted in investigating the case, participating in a search warrant and obtaining data found on a hard drive that was used during trial.
“HFS OIG appreciates the invaluable collaboration with its state law enforcement partners to safeguard public healthcare funds,” said Brian J. Dunn, Inspector General at the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. “This conviction underscores the importance of our collective dedication to preserving the integrity of the Illinois Medicaid system.”
"Physicians who defraud federal health care programs not only waste valuable taxpayer dollars, but they also divert resources meant to pay for medically necessary care for eligible enrollees," said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "HHS-OIG will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold fraudsters who exploit these programs accountable for their actions."
Beginning in federal fiscal year 2024, the newly-established Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the Illinois Attorney General’s office receives 75% of its funding, or more than $9.4 million, through a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Deputy Bureau Chief Elisa Hamilton and Deputy Chief of Medicaid Prosecutions Steven Krueger handled the case for Raoul’s Medicaid Fraud Unit.
