Neurosurgeon Aria Sabit, MD, is being detained for allegedly committing billing fraud against commercial and government payers, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
1. Dr. Sabit has been accused of falsely billing for procedures he didn't perform or that were medically unnecessary, which led to his arrest and imprisonment.
2. He allegedly told some patients he performed spinal fusion procedures on them and billed for the procedures, which weren't actually performed. Five patients are cited in the complaint against him.
3. The surgeon billed commercial and government payers more than $32 million over the last three years, according to the WSJ.
4. He was involved in a physician-owned distributorship case in California and then moved to Detroit. While in California, one patient he operated on died from postoperative complications, and Dr. Sabit surrendered his medical license under a settlement with the California medical board, according to the WSJ.
5. The United States filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against Dr. Sabit in September for his involvement with spinal implant company Reliance Medical Systems, which has 12 physician-owned distributorships.
6. Dr. Sabit is expected to enter a "not guilty" plea, according to his lawyer, but no plea has been entered yet.
7. He is being held without bond until a hearing on Dec. 1. Dr. Sabit faces 10 years or more in prison if convicted. He attempted to fly to Dubai in September, and federal prosecutors have asked he be held in jail pending trial. He was born in Afghanistan but obtained U.S. citizenship last year.
More articles on spine surgery:
Anterior lumbar spine surgery with BMP—6 findings on complications
15 spine surgeons and specialists on the move
5 points on quality of life for spinal fusion patients