NRI Pulse Staff Report
Atlanta, GA, October 18, 2018: An Indian-American doctor has been charged with committing health care fraud out of her practice in Stuart, Florida.
Sheetal Kanar Kumar, M.D., 48, appeared in federal court and was arraigned on twenty-six counts of health care fraud . The trial is currently set to begin in Fort Pierce on November 13, 2018, before U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra.
According to the indictment, Dr. Kumar owned and operated the medical practice Advanced Healthcare for Women in Stuart, Florida. She was an obstetrician and gynecologist licensed to practice medicine. She also provided medical services for treating incontinence. From at least as early as January 2014, until July 2017, Dr. Kumar submitted or caused the fraudulent submission of claims to Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies. The fraudulent claims sought money for specific health care benefits, items, and services that were not provided as billed. As a result of such false and fraudulent claims, Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies, made payments in the approximate amount of $926,802.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of HHS-OIG, FBI and Florida Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Funk.