LAFAYETTE, La. — A hard-hitting $650,000 settlement has been announced by the United States Attorney’s Office in Louisiana, marking the end of a saga involving convicted doctor Mehmood Patel and his clinics.
Dr. Patel, who was found guilty on multiple counts of health care fraud, and his affiliated entities, Acadiana Cardiology LLC and Acadiana Cardiovascular Center, have been implicated in a long-running scheme to defraud Medicare by performing unnecessary medical procedures.
In February 2006, Patel faced 94 counts of healthcare fraud, leading to a two-month trial that culminated in his conviction on December 30, 2008. He was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $387,511 in restitution and a $175,000 fine.
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and Lafayette General Medical Center have also paid substantial settlements related to the case. The U.S. intervened in a False Claims Act lawsuit brought by Dr. Christopher Mallavarapu, who sought damages for fraudulent practices by Patel’s clinics.
The government alleged that from 2000 to 2003, false claims totaling $207 were submitted for procedures performed at various medical centers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley emphasized the importance of holding healthcare providers accountable for their actions, stating, ‘We hope this settlement sends a message that those in the health care industry who overcharge federal programs and perform medically unnecessary treatments will be held accountable.’
This investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen J. King and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine W. Vincent handling the civil case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley P. Uebinger prosecuting the criminal case.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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