Saturday, July 01, 2006

Psychiatrist accused of bilking Medicare

As reported in the Chicago Tribune

A Downers Grove [Illinois] psychiatrist was indicted Friday on charges he defrauded Medicare of more than $875,000 by claiming to provide services he never performed, authorities said.

Dr. Naseem Chaudhry, 49, faces 14 counts of health-care fraud beginning in 1999 at the latest, U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement.

Some days, Chaudhry billed Medicare for more than 24 hours of services in a day, while on others he claimed to provide services when he was not in the country, the indictment said.

Chaudhry worked at several locations, including as medical director of the Rock Creek Center in Lemont, which closed in 2002. The indictment also alleges that he admitted patients to the facility when it was not medically necessary so he could charge Medicare for services.

Chaudhry could not be reached for comment Friday.
You can read the federal government press release here (PDF)

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