(Newswire.net — October 1, 2014) — Farid Fata, MD, 49, of Oakland Township, Michigan, pleaded guilty today before US District Judge Paul D. Borman of the Eastern District of Michigan to 13 counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay or receive kickbacks and two counts of money laundering.
Assistant Attorney General Caldwell said that cancer patients put their lives in the hands of doctors at a time when they are most vulnerable and fearful, and endure risky treatments at their recommendation.
“Dr. Fata today admitted he put greed before the health and safety of his patients, putting them through unnecessary chemotherapy and other treatments just so that he could collect additional millions from Medicare.” said Caldwell. ” The mere thought of what he did is chilling. Thanks to the quick action of our partners, he was arrested and has now admitted his guilt.”
The accusations were based on FBI interviews with employees of the doctor’s Michigan Hematology Oncology Centers, which included offices in Clarkston, Bloomfield Hills, Lapeer, Sterling Heights, Troy and Oak Park.
Allegedly, in one bizarre case, a male patient fell down and hit his head at one of the offices, and Fata was insisting that he receive his chemotherapy before be taken to the emergency room.
After one case when chemotherapy treatment was ordered even though the cancer was inactive, one oncologist who worked for Fata told investigators that he was so disturbed he advised a patient never to return to Fata’s offices. He described working for Fata as “living with this hell”.
Fata’s oncology centers submitted about $109 million in Medicare claims for chemotherapy and other cancer treatments between August 2007 and July 2013, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
“Dr. Fata’s utter disregard for his patients’ welfare was quite simply deplorable,” said HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Pugh. “The OIG will ceaselessly work to bring such criminals to the justice they deserve.”
“It’s exceptionally distressing to see this kind of fraud committed by individuals in occupations that profess high ethical standards,” said IRS-CI Chief Weber.
“When doctors commit fraud through their profession, it is not only a violation of the public trust but also a complete renunciation of their Hippocratic oath. Those who commit Medicare fraud are pick-pocketing from every American taxpayer.” added Weber.
At his sentencing, scheduled for Feb. 23, 2014, Fata faces a statutory maximum of 175 years in prison.