Indian-origin couple convicted of health care fraud in US

A federal jury in the US has convicted an Indian-origin doctor couple of a $2.5 million health care fraud, a media report said.

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 programmes, including Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE, washington.cbslocal.com reported on Saturday.

According to prosecutors, the Ajrawats defrauded the US government of at least $2.5 million. The couple was also found guilty of wire fraud, obstruction of justice and aggravated identity theft, according to the news website.

Paramjit is a licenced physician in Maryland who specialises in interventional pain management, while his wife is a psychiatrist.

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 Ajrawats were indicted by the US authorities in June 2014 and face a maximum 10 years in prison.

The sentencing is set for February 1 next year.