Here are 10 recent fraud cases involving physicians making recent headlines.
1. Chicago-Area Cardiologist to Pay $20M to Settle False Claims Allegations — Former cardiologist Sushil Sheth, MD, from Burr Ridge, Ill., has agreed to pay $20 million to settle allegations of fraudulent billing in a separate False Claims Act lawsuit.
2. New York Surgeon Charged With Bilking $3.5M From Healthcare Insurance Companies — Boris Sachakov, MD, a colorectal surgeon from Brooklyn, N.Y., has been arrested and charged for his alleged involvement in a Medicare fraud scheme that bilked the program and other healthcare benefit programs of at least $3.5 million.
3. Los Angeles Internist Sentenced to Prison for Role in $15M Healthcare Fraud Scheme — Gershon Hepner, MD, a Los Angeles internist has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to his involvement in a $15 million healthcare fraud scheme. He also faces the possibility of losing his medical license.
4. Pediatric Emergency Physician Indicted on 655 Counts of Prescription Fraud — Louis C. Hampers, MD, a pediatric emergency physician from Denver has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly obtaining controlled substances by fraud and conspiracy.
5. Florida Surgeon, Others Plead Guilty to Involvement in $37M Medicare Fraud Scheme — Fred Dweck, MD, a surgeon from Hollywood, Fla., five nurses and a clinic owner working in the Miami-area have pleaded guilty to their involvement in a $37 million Medicare fraud scheme.
6. Family Practice Physician, Clinic Owner Convicted in $2.3M Detroit-Area Medicare Fraud Scheme — Rosa Genao, MD, a family practice physician, and her husband, Juan De Oleo, the owner of X-Press Center, a Detroit-area clinic that purported to specialize in providing injection and infusion therapies, have been convicted for their roles in a $2.3 million Medicare fraud scheme.
7. Michigan General Practitioner Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Involvement in Medicare Fraud, Submitting False Claims — Jose Castro-Ramirez, MD, a general practitioner from Farmington, Mich., has been sentenced to 14 years in prison and ordered to pay $9.4 million in restitution for his involvement in a scheme to defraud Medicare.
8. New York Primary Care Physician Charged for Allegedly Leading Oxycodone Drug Ring, Pain Management Fraud — Diana Williamson, MD, a Manhattan, N.Y.-based physician, and eight others have been charged for allegedly distributing oxycodone pills through a Manhattan-based drug ring.
9. Georgia Internist Charged With Filing $2.2M in False Claims, Other Fraud Charges — Robert M. Ritchea, MD, a Georgia internist has been sued in a federal complaint for submitting over $2.2 million in false claims to Medicare.
10. California Pathologist Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Prescription Fraud — Masoud Bamdad, MD, a California pathologist who operated a medical clinic was sentenced to 25 years in prison for writing fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone in exchange for cash.
1. Chicago-Area Cardiologist to Pay $20M to Settle False Claims Allegations — Former cardiologist Sushil Sheth, MD, from Burr Ridge, Ill., has agreed to pay $20 million to settle allegations of fraudulent billing in a separate False Claims Act lawsuit.
2. New York Surgeon Charged With Bilking $3.5M From Healthcare Insurance Companies — Boris Sachakov, MD, a colorectal surgeon from Brooklyn, N.Y., has been arrested and charged for his alleged involvement in a Medicare fraud scheme that bilked the program and other healthcare benefit programs of at least $3.5 million.
3. Los Angeles Internist Sentenced to Prison for Role in $15M Healthcare Fraud Scheme — Gershon Hepner, MD, a Los Angeles internist has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to his involvement in a $15 million healthcare fraud scheme. He also faces the possibility of losing his medical license.
4. Pediatric Emergency Physician Indicted on 655 Counts of Prescription Fraud — Louis C. Hampers, MD, a pediatric emergency physician from Denver has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly obtaining controlled substances by fraud and conspiracy.
5. Florida Surgeon, Others Plead Guilty to Involvement in $37M Medicare Fraud Scheme — Fred Dweck, MD, a surgeon from Hollywood, Fla., five nurses and a clinic owner working in the Miami-area have pleaded guilty to their involvement in a $37 million Medicare fraud scheme.
6. Family Practice Physician, Clinic Owner Convicted in $2.3M Detroit-Area Medicare Fraud Scheme — Rosa Genao, MD, a family practice physician, and her husband, Juan De Oleo, the owner of X-Press Center, a Detroit-area clinic that purported to specialize in providing injection and infusion therapies, have been convicted for their roles in a $2.3 million Medicare fraud scheme.
7. Michigan General Practitioner Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Involvement in Medicare Fraud, Submitting False Claims — Jose Castro-Ramirez, MD, a general practitioner from Farmington, Mich., has been sentenced to 14 years in prison and ordered to pay $9.4 million in restitution for his involvement in a scheme to defraud Medicare.
8. New York Primary Care Physician Charged for Allegedly Leading Oxycodone Drug Ring, Pain Management Fraud — Diana Williamson, MD, a Manhattan, N.Y.-based physician, and eight others have been charged for allegedly distributing oxycodone pills through a Manhattan-based drug ring.
9. Georgia Internist Charged With Filing $2.2M in False Claims, Other Fraud Charges — Robert M. Ritchea, MD, a Georgia internist has been sued in a federal complaint for submitting over $2.2 million in false claims to Medicare.
10. California Pathologist Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Prescription Fraud — Masoud Bamdad, MD, a California pathologist who operated a medical clinic was sentenced to 25 years in prison for writing fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone in exchange for cash.