Patel is serving 10-years prison sentence.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley has announced a $650,000 settlement between Dr. Mehmood Patel of Lafayette, Louisiana, and two different businesses over allegations he performed unnecessary procedures and billed Medicare.
The settlement between Acadiana Cardiology LLC, Acadiana Cardiovascular Center, and Patel was reached as he currently serves a 10-year prison sentence as a result of being convicted on 51 counts of health care fraud in 2009.
The settlement is the result of the U.S. government’s intervention in a civil lawsuit filed by Dr. Christopher Mallavarpu, a cardiologist who previously practiced with Patel in Lafayette.
Mallavarpu’s lawsuit was brought against Acadiana Cardiology LLC, Acadiana Cardiovascular Center LLC, Mehmood Patel professional medical corporation, and Dr. Patel.
Patel, who practiced in the Lafayette, La. area for 25 years, was arraigned in 2006 on 94 counts of health care fraud. A jury subsequently found him guilty of 51 counts in 2008 after a trial that lasted two months.
According to The Advertiser, Patel billed Medicare and private insurance companies more than $3 million over three year, including nearly $542,000 for redundant, possibly harmful work such as radiation, angioplasty stents, and balloons in healthy arteries.
Mehmood propped up his charade by lying to patients and falsifying medical records.
Along with restitution in the sum of $378,511 and a $175,000, Patel was consequently sentenced to the maximum of 10 years in prison and five years supervised release. He began serving his sentence in December of 2012.
He had been free while appealing the case, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his 2012 bid to remain free while appealing the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.