A California physician and family medical practice owner was sentenced to more than five years in prison for healthcare fraud and submitting false claims to health insurers, according to the Department of Justice.
The Aug. 28 sentencing comes after a federal grand jury charged Vilasini Ganesh, MD, and her husband Gregory Belcher, MD, with healthcare fraud July 13, 2017.
Evidence presented during an eight-week trial demonstrated Dr. Ganesh submitted false medical claims related to her Saratoga, Calif.-based Campbell Medical Group. The evidence suggested Dr. Ganesh submitted claims for days when a patient did not see a provider, as well as claims for patients who received care from a physician no longer affiliated with Campbell Medical Group. Dr. Ganesh also sent claims to insurers making it appear some patients were seen 12 to 15 times a month, prosecutors alleged.
The jury convicted Dr. Ganesh and Dr. Belcher of one count of healthcare fraud, and convicted Dr. Ganesh of five counts of healthcare fraud and five counts of making false statements.