Former Saginaw Physician to Stand Trial on 23 Counts of Medicaid Fraud

LANSING – James Carthron, M.D., 61, of Saginaw, was recently bound over to stand trial in the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County on 23 counts of Medicaid Fraud—False Claim, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 4 years’ incarceration and/or a $50,000 fine per offense. Carthron formerly operated PRN Urgent Care in Saginaw, having closed the medical practice in 2023.  

It is alleged that Carthron, who was charged by the Department of Attorney General in August 2025, billed the Medicaid program for services never provided 23 times between May 31 and September 27, 2024. The services at issue were billed as telephone visits.  

“Millions of Michigan residents rely on the Medicaid program for their healthcare services, and we must defend it from fraud and bad actors,” said Nessel at the time of the arraignment. “My office will continue to safeguard this program by holding accountable those who seek to exploit Medicaid.”   

Carthron was bound over before 54B District Court Judge Molly E. Hennessey Greenwalt on January 15. The case is awaiting assignment of a judge in the 30th Circuit Court. No additional court dates have yet been set.   

The Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division (HCFD) is handling this case for the Department. The HCFD is the federally certified Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for Michigan, and it receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $5,517,524.00 for the fiscal year 2026. The remaining 25% percent, totaling $1,839,170.00, is funded by the State of Michigan.

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