Eastern Ky. cardiologist charged with fraud

LONDON, Ky. (AP) – A cardiologist in eastern Kentucky has been indicted for allegedly performing unnecessary heart procedures and billing the government for them.

Dr. Anis Chalhoub has been charged by a federal grand jury for implanting pacemakers into patients without “sufficient need or justification.” The medical fraud charges carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The indictment, returned in Laurel County on June 23, says the illegal conduct occurred between 2007 and 2011. Federal prosecutors say it is related to a scheme for which another cardiologist, Dr. Sandesh Patil, was sentenced to 2½ years in prison in 2013.

The Courier-Journal reports (http://cjky.it/29dbMDe) both doctors practiced at St. Joseph-London Hospital, which in 2014 paid $16.5 million to settle allegations of a false billing scheme at the facility.

Chalhoub has argued that the treatments were appropriate.

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Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.