Alleges massive government wrong-doing, billing mistakes by employee.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: Indian American physician Mahesh Kuthuru, who is currently under indictment for charges of healthcare fraud that could land him up to 30 years in prison, is claiming that he is innocent of all charges and insinuates that he may be the target of a governmental witch-hunt against desi physicians.
Kuthuru, 43, is being accused along with his 42 year-old employee, Bonnie Meislin, of billing Medicare to reimburse them for procedures they never actually conducted. Additionally, the two allegedly distributed several Schedule II controlled substances illegally, such as Oxycodone and Oxycotin.
The fraudulent activities allegedly occurred at Upstate Pain Management, a clinic Kuthuru ran in New York. What’s more, the government case alleges that while Kuthuru was in Las Vegas working to set up his new clinic, workers who had no authority to be caring for patients were administering healthcare in New York.
In a statement to The American Bazaar, Kuthuru explained his side of the story. “The government said there [were] no licensed medical providers in Fulton [New York] from January 2011 to May 2011,” said Kuthuru. “[But] I was in my Fulton office in January and May. Dr. [Paul] Ferenchak saw patients in Fulton in February and April. Al Shumway, PA [Physician’s Assistant] saw patients in Utica.”
Furthermore, Kuthuru lays the blame for the Medicare fraud charges at the feet of Meislin, who he contends incorrectly billed the federal program.
“There was never a conspiracy between me and Bonnie Meislin, my biller in New York,” said Kuthuru. “[She] made billing mistakes which are being used in the charges against me. She was the billing expert. She was paid to do her job. I am not a biller. I was busy taking care of my patients. This was unintentional [and] I was not aware of this.”
Kuthuru also defends himself by saying “No single doctor’s office in [the] US submits 100% perfect billing,” and attacks Meislin’s character by saying that her previous employer, Dr. Fadi Bejjani, accused her of stealing $75,000 while she was in that doctor’s employment.
In addition, Kuthuru vehemently denies the charges of illegally distributing controlled substances, saying that all drugs were given to “legitimate patients who received legitimate prescriptions that were filled at pharmacies.” Kuthuru has also apparently filed a “massive government wrongdoing” case at the office of Senator Dean Heller (R-NV), which has been forwarded to the Department of Justice.
But perhaps most alarming is that Kuthuru claims neither he nor his lawyer were in contact by the courts prior to his indictment on February 2. Kuhturu only came to know about his legal troubles when he was arrested at gunpoint in his home. Nevertheless, the pain specialist says he has “always been honest and ethical,” and will “defend [himself] from these baseless charges.”
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com
1 Comment
Dr. Kuthuru w as the best doctor I ever Had for pain management/control. This is not a fair indictment