(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.
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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.
