Latest news with #GoodyBags
Gulf News
17-04-2025
- Health
- Gulf News
Indian-descent doctor convicted in $2.3-million conspiracy to illegally distribute controlled drug
Doctor was also convicted of money laundering in a federal court: US Justice Department Last updated: New York: An Indian-descent doctor has been convicted of participating in a $2.3-million conspiracy to illegally distribute controlled substances and of healthcare fraud, according to the US Justice Department. Neil Anand, 48, was also convicted of money laundering on Tuesday in a federal court in Pennsylvania, the department said on Wednesday. In the conspiracy to illegally distribute drugs, he issued pre-signed medical prescriptions for oxycodone that were used by interns to enable just nine patients to collect 20,850 tablets, it said. Opioid Oxycodone is an opioid painkiller that can be highly addictive and is one of the substances behind the drug epidemic sweeping the US. Anand also issued "medically unnecessary prescription medications" in what prosecutors called "Goody Bags" through pharmacies he owned if they wanted to get the controlled drugs, and billed health insurance companies and government insurance plans for the unneeded medicines. The insurance companies and plans paid $2.3 million for the medicines in the "Goody Bags", the prosecutors said. When Anand became aware of the investigation, he transferred about $1.2 million to an account in his father's name and for the benefit of his minor daughter, to conceal the proceeds from the fraud, according to the prosecutors. One of the government lawyers who prosecuted him was Arun Bodapati, who works in the Justice Department's Criminal Division's Fraud Section. Sentencing in August Anand is scheduled to be sentenced in August. He was originally charged in 2019 with four others, three of whom were described as medical graduates of foreign universities without licence to practice medicine in the US. Unlawful distribution On December 14, 2017, an Indian-American doctor was arrested on 39 charges of unlawful distribution of prescription opioids and healthcare fraud, officials said. The cardiologist was based in the US state of Nevada. The 58-year-old doctor allegedly prescribed opioids such fentanyl, hydrocodone and oxycodone. Opiods are substances which act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects. Cardiologist Devendra Patel allegedly prescribed the aforementioned drugs without legitimate medical cause on a routine basis from May 2014 to September 2017, according to an announcement made by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions and other law enforcement officials.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pa. doctor convicted for allegedly giving patients illegal drug ‘goody bags'
(WBRE/WYOU) — A federal jury has convicted a doctor of committing health care fraud after investigators say he provided patients with illegal 'goody bags' that they did not need or want. According to court documents, 48-year-old Neil K. Anand M.D., of Bensalem conspired to submit false claims to Medicare, health plans provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Independence Blue Cross (IBC), and Anthem, for 'goody bags' of medically unnecessary prescription medications, which were given to patients from an in-house pharmacies owned by Anand. The US Department of Justice stated that patients were required to take the 'goody bags', which they did not need or want, to receive prescriptions for controlled substances. In total, Medicare, OPM, IBC, and Anthem paid over $2.3 million for the Goody Bags. Man accused of hiding camera inside bathroom smoke detector Authorities say Anand also conspired to give oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose and, as part of the scheme, Anand prescribed 20,850 oxycodone tablets for nine different patients. After learning that he was under investigation, investigators said Anand concealed the proceeds of the fraud by transferring around $1.2 million into an account that had his father's name and was for the benefit of his daughter. Anand was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, money laundering, unlawful monetary transactions, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19 and faces a maximum penalty of 130 years in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
