Indian-American doctor arrested for fraud, distributing opioids
Washington: An Indian-American cardiologist in Nevada has been arrested on the charges of unlawful distribution of prescription opioids and healthcare fraud.
The accused, Dr Devendra Patel, Thursday appeared in a federal court in Reno city of Nevada. He was charged with 36-counts of distribution of controlled substances such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, and three-counts of health care fraud.
The statutory maximum penalty for distribution of a controlled substance is 10 years in prison and the maximum penalty for healthcare fraud is 10 years in prison.
Federal prosecutors alleged that from May 2014 to September 2017, Patel routinely prescribed fentanyl, hydrocodone, and oxycodone for his patients without a legitimate medical purpose and that he fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for medical tests that he did not perform.
The indictment alleges that Patel performed EKGs on his patients, so he could then order nuclear stress tests which he did not administer.
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