A family practitioner in Merrillville, Ind., has entered a guilty plea for fraudulently prescribing pain medications and will testify against the owner of a medical laboratory who has been charged with healthcare fraud, according to a Post-Tribune report.
Adolph Yaniz, MD, will plead guilty to selling prescription dugs hydrocodone and alprazolam to two patients who did not have a medical need for the pills between Oct. 2008 and Feb. 2009, according to the report.
In addition to his guilty plea, Dr. Yaniz will testify against Munir Chaudry, the owner of Chicago-based Medway Diagnostic Laboratories, who allegedly paid Dr. Yaniz' monthly rent for his medical office in exchange to have the physician send his lab work to Medway. Mr. Chaudry is also accused of adding tests that were unnecessary and telling Dr. Yaniz' employees to take additional samples, according to the report.
Other evidence waiting to be admitted for prosecution against Mr. Chaudry shows he allegedly lied to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in May, claiming his criminal charges for the kickback scheme had been dropped after he paid the government $50,000. Additionally, in 1993 Mr. Chaudry was accused of hiring an associate to pose as a physician at his office so bills could be submitted for the fake physician's work, according to the report.
Mr. Chaudry's trial is scheduled for Sept. 27.
Read the Post-Tribune report about Dr. Adolph Yaniz and Mr. Munir Chaudry's kickback scheme.
Read other coverage about kickbacks:
- OIG Releases Favorable Opinion for the Hospital Provision of Free Pre-Authorization Services for Diagnostic Imaging Under the Anti-Kickback Statute
- Miami-Area HIV Clinic Owner Pleads Guilty to $23M Medicare Fraud, Conspiring With Physician and Others
- 10 of the Largest Fraud & Abuse, Stark Act and Anti-Kickback Violation Settlements in 2010
Adolph Yaniz, MD, will plead guilty to selling prescription dugs hydrocodone and alprazolam to two patients who did not have a medical need for the pills between Oct. 2008 and Feb. 2009, according to the report.
In addition to his guilty plea, Dr. Yaniz will testify against Munir Chaudry, the owner of Chicago-based Medway Diagnostic Laboratories, who allegedly paid Dr. Yaniz' monthly rent for his medical office in exchange to have the physician send his lab work to Medway. Mr. Chaudry is also accused of adding tests that were unnecessary and telling Dr. Yaniz' employees to take additional samples, according to the report.
Other evidence waiting to be admitted for prosecution against Mr. Chaudry shows he allegedly lied to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in May, claiming his criminal charges for the kickback scheme had been dropped after he paid the government $50,000. Additionally, in 1993 Mr. Chaudry was accused of hiring an associate to pose as a physician at his office so bills could be submitted for the fake physician's work, according to the report.
Mr. Chaudry's trial is scheduled for Sept. 27.
Read the Post-Tribune report about Dr. Adolph Yaniz and Mr. Munir Chaudry's kickback scheme.
Read other coverage about kickbacks:
- OIG Releases Favorable Opinion for the Hospital Provision of Free Pre-Authorization Services for Diagnostic Imaging Under the Anti-Kickback Statute
- Miami-Area HIV Clinic Owner Pleads Guilty to $23M Medicare Fraud, Conspiring With Physician and Others
- 10 of the Largest Fraud & Abuse, Stark Act and Anti-Kickback Violation Settlements in 2010