Last Updated:
Indian-origin doctor Neil K Anand has been convicted by a federal jury in the US of committing healthcare fraud worth USD 2.3 million.
Dr. Neil K. Anand conspired to distribute oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. (PTI Image for Representation)
An Indian-origin doctor has been convicted by a US federal jury for his involvement in multiple healthcare frauds by giving unnecessary prescription medications to patients and unlawfully distributing controlled substances.
The accused doctor, identified as 48-year-old Neil K Anand of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, has been convicted in $2.3 million healthcare fraud and faces up to 130 years in jail. Anand was found guilty of conspiring to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare, the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Independence Blue Cross (IBC), and Anthem, news agency PTI reported.
The claims involved ‘goody bags’ — pre-packaged medically unnecessary prescription medications which were dispensed to patients by in-house pharmacies owned by Anand. The total cost of the goody was over $2.3 million and was borne by Medicare, OPM, IBC and Anthem.
As per the evidence, Anand and his co-conspirators required patients to take the Goody Bags, which they did not need or want, to receive prescriptions for controlled substances.
Without a legitimate medical purpose, Anand also conspired to distribute oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice. Oxycodone is a highly addictive opioid painkiller and one of the substances behind aggravating drug addiction in the US.
In furtherance of the conspiracy, unlicensed medical interns wrote prescriptions for controlled substances using blank prescriptions that were pre-signed by Anand. As part of the scheme, Anand prescribed a total of 20,850 oxycodone tablets to nine patients.
After learning that he was under investigation, Anand concealed the proceeds of the fraud by transferring approx $1.2 million into an account in the name of his father and for the benefit of his minor daughter.
Anand was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud; three counts of health care fraud; one count of money laundering; four counts of unlawful monetary transactions; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of 130 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
(With inputs from PTI)
- Location :
New York, United States of America (USA)
