A 70-year-old Westport doctor today was sentenced to two years probation for engaging in health care fraud and agreed to pay more than $421,000 in restitution.
Igor Staw of Stony Brook Road was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Peter C. Dorsey in New Haven, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. He pleaded guilty to the offenses last December. (See WestportNow Dec. 11, 2007)
According to documents filed with the court and statements made in court, Staw owned and operated two medical practices, Respiratory Associates and Health Extenders, located on East Avenue in Norwalk.
From June 1, 2004 through June 1, 2006, Staw submitted claims to insurance companies for physical therapy sessions, nutritional counseling sessions, and massage therapy sessions rendered by non-physician providers at his medical practices, prosecutors said.
In order to obtain reimbursement of these services, Staw falsely represented that these services were physician office visits. He admitted that the scheme caused a loss of $171,225.81 to insurance companies and has paid full restitution of that amount, prosecutors said.
Staw and Respiratory Associates also have entered into civil settlement agreement with the government in which Respiratory Associates has paid an additional $250,000 to resolve allegations that Staw and Respiratory Associates violated the False Claims Act, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Shame on Dr. Igor Staw for bilking the Medicare program of thousands of dollars. I hope in addition to his two years of probation he lost his license to practice medicine and can no longer participate in the Medicare program. I applaud the Department of Justice in their fraud fighting efforts and success of recoveries and conviction. Fraudulent healthcare providers beware! You no longer have a license to steal.
John W. Schilling
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