From the Enquirer in Cincinnati
State investigators are trying to determine whether a Cincinnati psychiatrist improperly billed patients with workers’ compensation claims.
Agents from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation seized records Tuesday from Dr. Kode Murthy’s two offices in Cincinnati and Milford. They also used search warrants to get records from Murthy’s billing specialist.
The search warrants were not made public, but state investigators confirmed they are looking into allegations of “billing irregularities” by Murthy.
Those irregularities could include billing for services the patient did not receive or billing the state for treatments unrelated to workers’ compensation claims.
Joel Demory, agent in charge of the bureau’s special investigations unit, said information gathered Tuesday would help determine the next step, which could include a referral to prosecutors or a decision not to take action against Murthy.
Efforts to reach Murthy Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Demory would not comment on the records seized or on the nature of the allegations against Murthy, other than to say they involved billing. He also would not say how many complaints the bureau received or how many workers’ compensation patients receive treatment from Murthy.
The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation handles claims and oversees treatment of people suffering from job-related injuries.
The bureau’s investigations unit examines allegations of fraud by either the workers or the doctors treating them.
In the past year, the unit conducted almost 3,000 investigations and referred about 300 cases for criminal prosecution, a bureau spokesman said. More than 100 of those referrals resulted in indictments.
The investigation into Murthy also involves the Ohio Department of Insurance, the State Medical Board of Ohio and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
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