Ashland cardiologist pleads not guilty to health care fraud

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) – An Ashland cardiologist charged with performing unnecessary cardiac stent procedures on hundreds of patients has pleaded not guilty.
The Daily Independent reports 68-year-old Dr. Richard E. Paulus was indicted earlier this month on one count of health care fraud and 26 counts of making false statements relating to health care matters.
On Thursday, Paulus pleaded not guilty on all charges in federal court. A pre-trial and trial is expected to be set for next year. Paulus’ attorney, Robert S. Bennett, says he believes the case may take “substantially longer” to litigate.
According to the indictment, Paulus schemed to defraud and obtain money from Medicare, Medicaid and other insurers between 2008 and 2013. During that time, the indictment says Paulus performed more stent procedures than any other cardiologist in Kentucky.