London cardiologist sentenced for health care fraud

LONDON, Ky. (WTVQ) – A London physician will spend almost four years is prison for health care fraud.

The United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Kentucky announced Wednesday Dr. Anis Chalhoub was sentenced after being found guilty back in April of defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurers.

Prosecutors say Chalhoub implanted medically unnecessary pacemakers in his patients and billed insurers for the procedures and follow-up care.

Between 2007 and 2011, Chalhoub implanted approximately 234 pacemakers in patients at St. Joseph London hospital.

Prosecutors say the evidence at trial showed that dozens of those patients’ pacemakers were medically unnecessary and a number of patients testified at trial that Chalhoub pressured them into getting the procedures and told them misleading information about their health conditions.

They say several patients recalled Chalhoub telling them that they might die without a pacemaker.

In addition to his prison term, prosecutors say Chalhoub must pay a $50,000 fine and must also repay $257,515 to Medicare, Medicaid, and other private insurers.

After Chalhoub is released from prison, he will be on probation and unable to practice cardiology.