An Ashland City doctor has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for his involvement in a massive health care fraud conspiracy that resulted in over $41 million in fraudulent Medicare claims, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee announced Monday.
Dr. John R. Manning, 64, from Ashland City, Tennessee, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He had been indicted in July 2022 on charges including one count of conspiracy and eight counts of health care fraud.
In his guilty plea, Manning admitted that he had signed prescriptions and doctor orders for medical equipment, topical creams, and genetic cancer tests through various telemedicine companies—often without ever speaking to the patients. Manning acknowledged that he approved these orders based on brief or nonexistent patient interactions in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes.
Between June 2016 and April 2019, Manning’s fraudulent actions led to the submission of more than $41 million in false Medicare claims, with Medicare ultimately paying out over $19 million. Manning personally received over $812,000 in illicit payments tied to these fraudulent orders and prescriptions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that Manning’s prescriptions were used by telemedicine companies to fraudulently bill Medicare for services and items that were either medically unnecessary or never provided at all.
As part of his sentence, Manning will serve three years in federal prison and will be required to pay restitution.
“This doctor turned his back on his professional oath to help others and instead exploited the system, stealing almost $20 million from taxpayers,” said Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney. “Now, he will face the consequences of his actions, and the taxpayers will receive justice for the fraud perpetrated against them.”
