Lehigh County man sentenced to prison for posing as a medical professional

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a Lehigh County man with no medical training or licenses has been sentenced to state prison for posing as a medical professional in Carbon County to administer care to patients — for which Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies paid out claims.

Adam Herman was sentenced this week to nine to 24 months in state prison, followed by four years of probation. As part of the sentence, Herman was also ordered to pay more than $104,000 in restitution.

Herman, 45, of Slatington, pleaded no contest last year to 17 felonies and one misdemeanor, including Medicaid and insurance fraud, theft by deception, identity theft, practicing medicine without a license, and 13 counts of neglect of a care-dependent person.

The investigation revealed that Herman presented himself as a physician, certified registered nurse practitioner or nurse to patients, including residents from at least nine personal care and assisted living facilities in Carbon County, where he treated patients, prescribed medications and performed procedures — all without a valid medical license or training.

"The defendant's actions put patients at serious risk and defrauded Medicaid programs designed to support vulnerable and underserved Pennsylvanians," Sunday said in a news release. "Thanks to the collaboration between my office and federal partners, the defendant's web of lies and deceit was uncovered, stopping him from harming any other patients in the future."

The case was investigated by the Office of Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Section Eastern and Central offices, the Office of Attorney General's Insurance Fraud Section, and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"By pretending to be a medical professional and providing medical services to real Medicare and Medicaid patients, this defendant seriously imperiled the health and well-being of vulnerable patients, wasted taxpayer funds meant to pay for legitimate health services, and undermined the public's trust in our health care system," said Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "HHS-OIG will continue to closely collaborate with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Section to investigate allegations of health care fraud, holding accountable those who endanger patients and defraud federal health care programs."

In 2022, Herman partnered with a Carbon County doctor to jointly operate a business that would provide medical care to the residents of personal care homes and assisted living facilities. Although the Carbon County doctor incorrectly believed that Herman was a registered nurse, Herman's role at the practice was to run the business operations of the medical practice, not provide medical care.

After the doctor became ill, Herman used the doctor's phone and authentication app (only accessible to physicians) to write prescriptions and claim reimbursement under the doctor's name, without the doctor's authorization.

As a result, patients received improper diagnoses and treatments, including diabetes medications given to non-diabetic patients, which caused illness and weight loss.