Can you believe this guy?

[Chemdude]

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ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - Dr. Farid Fata’s website for his Michigan Hematology Oncology practice promises the “Best Cancer Care – Anywhere.” But, U. S. Attorney Barbara McQuade says otherwise.

Federal agents arrested the 48-year-old doctor at his Rochester Hills practice. McQuade says he’s charged with healthcare fraud for his role in a scheme to submit false claims to Medicare for treatments that were medically unnecessary. McQuade says the fraud scheme involves $35 million.

Federal officials are alleging an even worse crime than cheating Medicare -- in their criminal complaint against Fata, FBI agents say “Dr. Fata directed the administration of unnecessary chemotherapy to patients in remission.”

The feds say he also deliberately misdiagnosed patients “as having cancer to justify unnecessary cancer treatment,” WXYZ reported.

Federal agents say Fata directed the “administration of chemotherapy to end-of-life patients who [would] not benefit from the treatment,” and deliberately misdiagnosed “patients without cancer to justify expensive testing.”

Federal agents say Dr. Fata owns and operates Michigan Hematology Oncology Centers (MHO) which has offices in Clarkston, Bloomfield Hills, Lapeer, Sterling Heights, and Oak Park.

Federal agents also searched Fata’s house as well as Fata’s other offices in Clarkston and Bloomfield Hills.

The FBI also took evidence from Fata’s United Diagnostics, which is just down the street from his Rochester Hills oncology office.

The FBI took boxes into the Rochester Hills location to start executing their search warrant. Agents were likely looking for patient records and other evidence. We also saw federal agents remove about 100 boxes of evidence at the end of the day.

Patients who have questions concerning their medical records and/or information regarding this investigation and prosecution can call the United States Attorney’s Office Information Line at 888-702-0553.

“I think it’s terrible if he’s giving them therapy and they didn’t have cancer,” said 85 year old Pat Winowiski. She’s fighting cancer in her lungs and liver and she’s shocked her doctor was arrested Tuesday.

“It’s very upsetting because I really liked him,” said Winowiski.

“I trusted him,” said patient Terri Mitchell



After more than 7 years of treatment with Dr. Fata, Mitchell says she’s starting to doubt her diagnosis.

“I can’t understand – I’ve talked to many people and they’ve said I don’t understand why you’re still on Retuximab for the last 7 years – cause he told me at the beginning it would be a year of treatment and 2 years of maintenance,” said Mitchell.

It’s clear from court records that current and former employees have turned into informants – concerned about what was happening to patients. One described working for Fata as “living with this hell.”

But nothing the feds can say will convince Sally Kelley that the doctor she calls “gentle and loving” could have harmed anyone.

“I don’t believe a word of it, I have total faith,” said Kelley.

Dr. Fata faced a federal magistrate Tuesday afternoon. Assistant U. S. Attorneys assigned to the case argued Fata is a flight risk because he has access to about $14 million in liquid assets and a home in Lebanon. The magistrate is temporarily detaining Fata until another hearing can be held on Thursday. He faces up to 20 years behind bars if he’s convicted.

Fata’s wife is the CFO of his company, and the couple has three young children.

Source:http://www.theindychannel.com/news/...of-fraud-prolonging-chemo-for-cancer-patients

 

[Frazier]

I saw a bunch of reallllllly nice houses while once driving around Rochester Hills...now it makes sense. 😉

 

[Sabate]

Holy ****. That sounds very similar to the cardiologist & surgeon in Redding, CA that were giving folks unwarranted bypass surgery.

 

[Anastomoses]

It's really upsetting to hear about these cases. They damage the entire profession which relies on a lot of trust.

 

[Kal EI]

Holy ****. That sounds very similar to the cardiologist & surgeon in Redding, CA that were giving folks unwarranted bypass surgery.

I guess that's one way to have a high success rate.

 

[DubVille]

Dr. Atiq Durrani is out on bond tonight and facing charges he defrauded health care insurance providers. The spine surgeon has offices in Evendale and Florence. Since February, he's been hit with more than 100 lawsuits claiming he performed unnecessary surgeries on patients. This morning, federal agents arrested him and took him into custody. Local 12's Joe Webb was in federal court with the doctor this afternoon. Dr. Durrani was released on his own recognizance after a brief appearance in federal court Thursday.
The 44-year-old Pakistani citizen had to surrender his passport and must send a letter to all his upcoming patients telling them he's been arrested and explain the charges. The former patients who've sued him feel some vindication today. Dr. Durrani said nothing as he left the federal courthouse this afternoon. The federal complaint claims he billed Medicare for 12-million dollars between January 2010 and February of 2013. Investigators claim he profited by convincing patients to undergo medically unnecessary surgeries. More than 100 of them have sued the doctor. About 30 of them gathered at their attorney's office today. Many have similar stories, many with worse pain after surgery than before. Stephanie Herrin-Threm, Former Patient: "I went to see another doctor on a friend's recommendation at the Mayfield Clinic. He looked at the pre-surgical films and he said the surgery was unnecessary. There was no evidence of instability ever." Today, they felt a sense of victory knowing the federal government was watching their doctor, too. Their attorney said the arrest bolsters their cases and sends a powerful message. Eric Deters, Plaintiff's Attorney: "If there's another surgeon out there going to do a surgery...a fraud that's not necessary...he might think twice and say, hey, they will prosecute you if this happens." Deters has 20 cases already set for trial. Many of the former patients have been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury. Dr. Durrani's problems have escalated in the last few months, but his attorneys insists he's a good doctor. They say in 14 years in Cincinnati he's never had a successful case filed against him. They say they will prevail in the lawsuits and the criminal case. Michael Lyon, Dr. Durrani's Attorney: "The central issue has always been 'do these patients meet the criteria for these procedures?' And what we've seen with outside experts time and again is that they have."
Dr. Durrani will be back in court next month. He was in shackles and cuffs when he arrived for court this afternoon. He can continue to practice medicine....at least for now... but has to send that letter notifying patients with upcoming appointments that he's facing federal charges. Durrani's attorney argued that would kill his business, but the judge wasn't swayed. If convicted on both charges, Dr. Durrani could face up to 25 years in federal prison and up to a half-million dollars in fines. If any fraud is proven, he would also be liable for twice the amount of the money lost by the insurance provider.





See a ton of this guys patients in my resident clinic, and a ton on interventional pain elective. So many 20 and 30 year olds with fusions etc. Somehow this guy was a professor at University of Cincinnati for years. He was also a part time surgeon at Cincinnati Childrens, yet was somehow the number one billing surgeon at the hospital. Sad and infuriating. I don't know why they go so bad?? This guy was also apparently a monumental A**hole. Lost privileges at all but one hospital in the area because of how abusive he was to the staff. The hospital admin didn't want to see him go, because of the volume he brought.

 

[oncology2020]

Source:http://www.theindychannel.com/news/...of-fraud-prolonging-chemo-for-cancer-patients

what doesnt make sense is how he was able to defraud medicare for $35 million in just two years....his income was $17.5 million a year and it took them two years to figure this out? something doesn't add up..

 

[evilbooyaa]

what doesnt make sense is how he was able to defraud medicare for $35 million in just two years....his income was $17.5 million a year and it took them two years to figure this out? something doesn't add up..

Well, his take home income wouldn't be 17.5 million per year since he'd have to pay for costs, staffing, etc. etc.

Really sad to hear these 2 stories, and I think people like these (if truly as opena nd shut as the articles make it seem) should be made examples of in the medical community. This will make patients wonder "what if my doc is doing the same"? Not a terrible thing for a patient to be more knowledgable, but will be a problem when they (inevitably) start second-guessing everything their PCP/specialist/ED doc is telling them.

That being said, Chemo for 7 years? I don't know a lot about long-term chemotherapy, but how in the world is someone on continuous chemo for 7 years?