Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mix-up Brings Strife for Doctor Whose Name Matches Fraudster

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Wikimedia Commons
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

A case of mistaken identity has forced a West Palm Beach doctor to temporarily close his doors.

Dr. Andre Celestin tells WPBF he has the same name as a dead New York surgeon who was convicted of Medicare fraud. The mix-up led some pharmacies to stop filling the doctor's prescriptions. Patients were told his license was suspended even though it's clear and active.

One of the pharmacies, CVS, said a third-party claims processor apparently confused the names in its system and is working to fix the error.