SAVANNAH, Ga. --- A Jesup physician billed Medicare at six times the proper sum for treatment not called for, a government witness testified this week in federal court.

Bills submitted by Randy Lentz for patient William Adams were for therapeutic exercises rather than cardiac rehabilitation or therapeutic procedures that paid less, Kimberly Reinken, a summary witness, testified Monday.

Between Sept. 8, 2004, and April 1, 2005, the bills totaled $19,930, she testified.

Her testimony came as government prosecutors began building their case before U.S. District Chief Judge William T. Moore Jr. and a jury. The trial was scheduled to resume today.

Dr. Lentz, a family practice doctor, is on trial for conspiracy to defraud Medicare and Georgia Medicaid and 104 counts of health care fraud.

His wife, Rebecca Jill Lentz, is charged with the conspiracy count and 79 fraud charges.

Both have pleaded not guilty.

"Who pays for Medicare?" Assistant U.S. Attorney James Durham asked witness Heather Sheppard.

"It is a taxpayer-funded program," she responded.

Dr. Lentz and his wife owned and operated Lentz Medical Practice in Jesup. Dr. Lentz opened a World Gym adjacent to his practice.

Their co-defendant, physical therapist Scott T. Bowlin, pleaded guilty to a fraud count last week. The former Richmond Hill, Ga., resident is expected to testify for the government against the Lentzes.

In opening statements Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McEvoy told jurors that the defendants schemed to submit false claims to get about $600,000 they were not entitled to.

The targets: Medicare, a federal program for those 65 and older or disabled, and Georgia Medicaid, a state program for low-income and disabled Georgians.

Mr. McEvoy said the Lentzes overbilled for more patients than they saw and provided unneeded services for which Dr. Lentz did not supervise.

Mrs. Lentz was doing all of the billing, the prosecutor said.

Dr. Lentz's lawyer, John Ossick, told jurors that his client's charges were appropriate and he properly treated his patients in a community where his services were badly needed.

He "saw a lot of people who were underserved," he said.

Attorney Alex Zipperer, who represents Mrs. Lentz, told jurors his client was "primarily at all times a mother and housewife raising four kids."

"She had no intent at any time to cheat Medicaid," Mr. Zipperer said.