A cardiologist in Lafayette, Louisiana, accused of Medicare fraud, reached a settlement with federal authorities paying out $650,000 in settlement claims.
United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced a $650,000 settlement was reached with Acadiana Cardiology LLC, Acadiana Cardiovascular Center and convicted doctor, Mehmood Patel, concerning allegations that Patel performed unnecessary medical procedures and billed Medicare.
In the criminal proceedings, Patel was indicted on 94 counts of health care fraud on February 16, 2006, and a jury found him guilty on December 30, 2008 after a two-month trial of 51 counts of health care fraud. He was sentenced on June 4, 2009, to serve 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $387,511 in restitution and a $175,000 fine.
After proceeding began against Patel, two other entities where he had practiced and performed medical procedures, settled claims. In August of 2006, Our Lady of Lourdes agreed to pay a $3.8 million settlement, and in January of 2008, Lafayette General Medical Center agreed to pay a $1.9 million.
The Justice Department intervened in the lawsuit Dr. Christopher Mallavarapu, a cardiologist who formerly practiced with Patel in Lafayette, brought against Acadiana Cardiology LLC, Acadiana Cardiovascular Center LLC, Mehmood Patel, a Professional Medical Corp., and Mehmood Patel, M.D., to recover damages under the False Claims Act. According to the case against Patel et al, from 2000 to 2003, the defendants were alleged to have submitted 207 false claims for unnecessary cardiovascular, endovascular and related procedures that Patel performed at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Lafayette General Medical Center, Acadiana Cardiology and Acadiana Cardiovascular Center.