Bad news for Indian-origin doctor who treated 9/11 victims in US…., sentenced to 14 years in prison for…
Dr. Neil K. Anandan, a Pennsylvania resident who treated 9/11 victims, was found guilty of prescribing sedatives to patients when they didn't need them and submitting fraudulent insurance claims.
An India(BHARAT)n-origin doctor in the US has been sentenced to 168 months (or 14 years) in prison for healthcare fraud and deception. The US Justice Department gave this information. Dr. Neel K. Anandan, a resident of Pennsylvania, was found guilty of forcing sedative medicine packets on patients even when they did not need them, and of making fraudulent insurance claims. According to a TOI report, Dr. Anandan had treated 9/11 victims. He has also been fined more than $2 million.
$2.4 million defrauded through fraudulent claims
The investigation revealed that Dr. Anand kept blank prescriptions, already signed by him, on which his unlicensed interns would prescribe narcotic drugs. According to the documents, he defrauded agencies such as Medicare, the Office of Personnel Management, Independent Blue Cross, and Anthem of $2.4 million through fraudulent claims. Dr. Neel K. Anand, 48, has also been ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution and forfeiture of more than $2 million, the Justice Department said in a statement.
Anand was convicted in April of conspiring to submit unnecessary prescription drug claims to Medicare, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Independence Blue Cross (IBC), and others. The Justice Department said in a statement Tuesday that these drugs were dispensed to patients by various pharmacies owned by Anand.
Drugs were given to patients
“In total, Medicare, OPM, IBC, and Anthem received reimbursements of more than $2.4 million. Anand also conspired to distribute oxycodone outside the normal practice of medicine and without any legitimate medical purpose, by enticing patients to accept gifts that came with the product,” the statement said.
The department said that as part of the scheme, Anand prescribed 20,850 oxycodone tablets to nine different patients, but when he learned he was under investigation, Anand “concealed the fraudulent proceeds by transferring approximately $1.2 million to an account in the name of a relative and for the benefit of a minor relative.” Oxycodone is a prescription pain reliever.
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