Indian-Origin Doctor Couple Convicted of $2.5 Million Health Care Fraud in US

An Indian-origin doctor couple, Paramjit Singh Ajrawat, 60, and his wife Sukhveen Kaur Ajrawat, 57, who operated Washington Pain Management Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, were charged with engaging in a scheme to defraud federal health benefit programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE. A federal jury in the United States has convicted them of a $2.5 million health care fraud, suggested a media report.

Paramjit is a licensed physician in Maryland who specializes in interventional pain management, while Sukhveen Kaur is a psychiatrist. The prosecutors claimed that the Ajrawats defrauded the US government of at least $2.5 million. The doctor couple was also found guilty of wire fraud, obstruction of justice and aggravated identity theft.

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Prosecutors said, "The Ajrawats filed claims for procedures that were either not performed at their pain management clinic or less expensive procedures were performed. The couple falsely billed for procedures that provided for higher reimbursements."

The couple was indicted by the US authorities in June 2014 and face a maximum 10 years in prison. The sentencing is set for February 1, 2016.

Source-IANS

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