Local Doctor Charged With Workers’ Compensation Fraud

A central New York orthopedic surgeon has been accused of operating an ongoing scheme to steal more than $50,000 from the Workers' Compensation system.

70-year old Dr. Gregory Shankman of Clinton was indicted today on two counts of grand larceny and 21 counts of offering a false instrument for filing, all felonies.

The State Inspector General's Office says Shankman defrauded the Workers' Compensation system by certifying he was performing medical exams at his Utica office when he was traveling in western New York, out of state and even out of the country.

They say an investigation revealed that Shankman was not in his Utica office on more than 150 separate days from January 2015 to August 2017 while certifying he was at the office each of those days overseeing multiple Workers' Comp exams.

"The indictment alleges that this physician blatantly and greedily ignored standard procedures to operate an illicit medical billing mill while vacationing abroad,” said Inspector General Leahy Scott.  “He profited personally from his conduct while putting honest medical practitioners at a severe disadvantage. I remain committed to using all the resources at my disposal to pursue anyone who defrauds the Workers’ Compensation system.”

Shankman was arraigned on the incident in Oneida County Court and released pending further court action.