Talks of a possible plea agreement in the case against a Linwood, N.J., vascular surgeon have stalled, according to a Press of Atlantic City news report.
Khashayar Salartash, MD, and his officer manager, Farah Houtan, worked at Center for Lymphatic Disorders, which Dr. Salartash owned. The pair and facility were indicted in July 2009 for billing federal healthcare programs and other insurance companies for surgical procedures when, in fact, patients came in for office visits. Even after the office was questioned about claims showing surgeries being performed in the office, the location — not the procedure — was changed in order to claim a larger amount. As a result of the fraudulent claims, more than $5 million was bilked from Medicare and Medicaid, with another $3 million coming from private insurers.
Following the stalled plea agreements, the case was put on the list for pretrial talks, according to the report. The next court date is scheduled for Dec. 17.
Read the Press of Atlantic City news report about Dr. Khashayar Salartash.
Read other coverage about physician fraud:
- 10 Recent Headlines Involving Physician Fraud
- Michigan Plastic Surgeon Charged With Filing False Claims to Medicaid and BCBS
- Prosecutors Seek 5-Year Sentence for Detroit Family Practitioner Accused of Medicare Fraud
Khashayar Salartash, MD, and his officer manager, Farah Houtan, worked at Center for Lymphatic Disorders, which Dr. Salartash owned. The pair and facility were indicted in July 2009 for billing federal healthcare programs and other insurance companies for surgical procedures when, in fact, patients came in for office visits. Even after the office was questioned about claims showing surgeries being performed in the office, the location — not the procedure — was changed in order to claim a larger amount. As a result of the fraudulent claims, more than $5 million was bilked from Medicare and Medicaid, with another $3 million coming from private insurers.
Following the stalled plea agreements, the case was put on the list for pretrial talks, according to the report. The next court date is scheduled for Dec. 17.
Read the Press of Atlantic City news report about Dr. Khashayar Salartash.
Read other coverage about physician fraud:
- 10 Recent Headlines Involving Physician Fraud
- Michigan Plastic Surgeon Charged With Filing False Claims to Medicaid and BCBS
- Prosecutors Seek 5-Year Sentence for Detroit Family Practitioner Accused of Medicare Fraud