A cardiologist with offices in New York and New Jersey has admitted to participating in a scheme that resulted in $19 million in fraudulent bills, according to a Star-Ledger report.
Jose Katz, MD, was the founder and CEO of Cardio-Med Services, which had offices in Union City, Paterson and West New York, N.J.; and Comprehensive Healthcare & Medical Services, which had offices in New York City.
Of the $19 million, which was bilked from private insurers and government health programs from 2005 through 2012, Dr. Katz received more than $15.6 million from Medicare and Medicaid. The fraudulent bills were for enhanced external counterpulsation treatments, according to the report, most of which were unnecessary and based on false diagnoses.
Officials said Dr. Katz led the largest healthcare fraud scheme by a single practitioner in the tri-state area, according to the report.
Dr. Katz's sentencing is scheduled for July 23. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and prosecutors said he also faces fines and will be ordered to pay restitution.
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Jose Katz, MD, was the founder and CEO of Cardio-Med Services, which had offices in Union City, Paterson and West New York, N.J.; and Comprehensive Healthcare & Medical Services, which had offices in New York City.
Of the $19 million, which was bilked from private insurers and government health programs from 2005 through 2012, Dr. Katz received more than $15.6 million from Medicare and Medicaid. The fraudulent bills were for enhanced external counterpulsation treatments, according to the report, most of which were unnecessary and based on false diagnoses.
Officials said Dr. Katz led the largest healthcare fraud scheme by a single practitioner in the tri-state area, according to the report.
Dr. Katz's sentencing is scheduled for July 23. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and prosecutors said he also faces fines and will be ordered to pay restitution.
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