A Washington, D.C. judge this week denied a bid by cardiologist Dr. Ishtiaq Malik to fight a $17 million judgment over false Medicare claims.
U.S. District Judge Robert Wilkins denied out of hand Malik’s claim that the evidence failed to demonstrate that he "acted with reckless disregard." The court ruled that the argument wasn’t grounds for relief, as it had been brought up before.
The court also denied a motion to reconsider the $17 million price-tag, saying that Malik had previous opportunities to request revision to the penalties, which he declined, according to legal filings.
Malik was accused of double-billing and submitting false claims for myocardial perfusion studies or "nuclear stress tests." Ordinarily performed in 2 stages, the tests are billed as 1 test for reimbursement purposes. Malik allegedly billed Medicare, District of Columbia Medicaid, Maryland Medicaid, TRICARE and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan for 2 tests for each set of tests.
The feds also accused Malik of using billing codes not applicable to nuclear stress tests, of billing for services already included in the nuclear stress test payments such as intravenous injections or 3D rendering, and of billing for services he didn’t deliver.