A former podiatrist who practiced in Gates, N.Y., and pleaded guilty to bilking more than $400,000 from Medicare is now facing allegations that he provided patient care without a medical license, according to a Democrat and Chronicle news report.
The new allegations against Michael Akyuz accuse him of continuing to trim toenails for former patients, despite surrendering his medical license for three years, and collecting money for the services from the patients, according to the report.
Mr. Akyuz told the district judge that he was clear with patients about no longer being a physician and that he was attempting to build a business around trimming toenails that didn't require a medical license. However, prosecutors are accusing Mr. Akyuz of knowingly posing as a physician, according to the report.
Mr. Akyuz' sentencing has been delayed as a result of the newly emerged allegations. He was initially brought to court because of allegations he had submitted fraudulent bills to Medicare from 2003-2008 for invasive procedures that were never rendered, according to the report.
Read the Democrat and Chronicle news report about Michael Akyuz' fraud.
Read other coverage about physician fraud:
- St. Louis-Area Internist, Employer to Pay $1.6M to Settle Medicare Fraud Case
- Arizona Physician to Pay $396K to Settle False Claims Allegations
- Illinois Pediatrician Gets 3 Years Probation for Falsely Billing Health Insurance Companies for Free Vaccines Provided by CDC
The new allegations against Michael Akyuz accuse him of continuing to trim toenails for former patients, despite surrendering his medical license for three years, and collecting money for the services from the patients, according to the report.
Mr. Akyuz told the district judge that he was clear with patients about no longer being a physician and that he was attempting to build a business around trimming toenails that didn't require a medical license. However, prosecutors are accusing Mr. Akyuz of knowingly posing as a physician, according to the report.
Mr. Akyuz' sentencing has been delayed as a result of the newly emerged allegations. He was initially brought to court because of allegations he had submitted fraudulent bills to Medicare from 2003-2008 for invasive procedures that were never rendered, according to the report.
Read the Democrat and Chronicle news report about Michael Akyuz' fraud.
Read other coverage about physician fraud:
- St. Louis-Area Internist, Employer to Pay $1.6M to Settle Medicare Fraud Case
- Arizona Physician to Pay $396K to Settle False Claims Allegations
- Illinois Pediatrician Gets 3 Years Probation for Falsely Billing Health Insurance Companies for Free Vaccines Provided by CDC