Dr. David A. Parks, 66, along with James M. Bilderback, 58, and Michelle J. Scheer, 43, have been indicted in U.S. District Court on charges related to the illegal prescription of controlled substances and health care fraud. Parks and Bilderback are from Jefferson County, Missouri, while Scheer resides in St. Louis.
The indictment includes charges of conspiracy to illegally prescribe controlled substances and multiple counts of illegal prescription. Parks and Bilderback face additional charges of healthcare fraud and making false statements related to healthcare matters.
From July 6, 2016, to December 31, 2021, the trio allegedly conspired to prescribe controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and without legitimate medical purposes. The indictment claims their goal was to maximize patient numbers and profits. Parks and Bilderback are also accused of defrauding Medicare, Missouri Medicaid, and private insurers by falsely billing for services purportedly provided by Parks, even when he was out of the country.
Dr. Parks operated his clinic, David A. Parks, M.D., P.C., at 3960 Lindell Boulevard in St. Louis. Bilderback served as the clinic’s manager and clinical research coordinator and later married Parks. Scheer worked at the clinic’s front desk.
The indictment states that many patients regularly received prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and dextroamphetamine-amphetamine salts. Parks was rarely at the clinic, often only working one or two days per week for a few hours. Staff used pre-signed prescriptions to provide controlled substances without proper evaluation or medical record reviews, even when Parks was away.
With the shift to electronic prescriptions in 2019, Parks and Bilderback allegedly gave the cell phone used for approving Schedule II controlled substance prescriptions to unauthorized staff members. Scheer reportedly used this phone to make unilateral decisions on prescriptions, altering dosages, quantities, and types of drugs.
The indictment further alleges that all three defendants authorized prescriptions that heightened the addictive effects of the drugs and increased the risk of overdose. They reportedly avoided drug testing patients to detect abuse and provided “special treatment” to friends and family, issuing prescriptions without requiring provider visits.
Parks and Bilderback allegedly billed at higher rates as if Parks had performed the services, although nurse practitioners or Bilderback provided the care. Parks also failed to properly supervise nurse practitioners, not reviewing the required percentage of their charts or staying within the mandated distance while they saw patients.
Charges in an indictment are accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the DEA, and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Sestric is prosecuting the case.
