Sonya Mariee Whitestyles took more than $10k in Medicare rebates meant for patients

A worker at a Gold Coast medical centre netted $10,000 by claiming the Medicare rebates of almost 100 patients. FIND OUT HOW SHE DID IT

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A medical centre worker netted $10,000 by claiming the Medicare rebates of almost 100 patients.

But Sonya Mariee Whitestyles claims she was just doing as her boss had told her.

The 47-year-old pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday to two counts of obtaining financial advantage for herself.

The court was told that between June 2016 and March 2017 and again in March 2018 Whitestyles would use her own bank card to process patients’ Medicare rebates after telephone consultations at Integrated Medical Clinic in Southport.

This meant the rebate was going into Whitestyles’ bank account instead of the patient’s.

The court was told she did this 143 times to 99 patients, taking a total of $10,629.

Sonya Mariee Whitestyles leaves Southport court. Picture: Lea Emery

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Commonwealth prosecutor Michael Potts said when Whitestyles was interviewed by the Department of Health in 2019 she told them she did what she was trained to do.

The court was told Whitestyles provided the department with information to help them with a civil matter relating to her boss, Dr Michael Belich.

Details of that matter were not revealed in court on Wednesday. Dr Belich has not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

Magistrate Grace Kahlert sentenced Whitestyles to 12 months’ probation and a $1200 good behaviour bond for two years.

“This is serious offending and adds to the costs of Medicare which is ultimately borne by the public,” she said.

Magistrate Kahlert said she accepted Whitestyles had been instructed by her boss to conduct the transfers in such a manner.

Defence lawyer Blake Fraser, of Fraser Lawyers, told the court Whitestyles had been instructed to do it that way and the Medicare rebate amount would then be deducted from her pay.

Mr Fraser said that Whitestyles had started at the practice with little experience and received “no training”, was required to work long hours and received “no support”.

“The pressure that was imposed on her, in her very early employment with little to no experience in the role, would have added to the decision to offend,” he said.

Sonya Mariee Whitestyles (right) leaves Southport court with her lawyer Blake Fraser, of Fraser Lawyers. Picture: Lea Emery

He said Whitestyles suffered from mental health issues after a traumatic childhood and adulthood.

Integrated Medical Clinics has since closed and the court was told it was owned and operated by Dr Belich.

Dr Belich has a condition on his medical licence that prevents him from prescribing steroids, according to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

An AHPRA spokeswoman said the conditions were imposed in February last year but could not say more due to privacy reasons.

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