Psych Observer – Exposing Bad Psychiatry

Associated Press – April 4, 2008 11:14 AM ET

Original post:Belleville psychiatrist gets 30months in prison for defrauding Medicare

Associated Press – April 4, 2008 11:14 AM ET
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) – A Metro East psychiatrist is headed to federal prison for two and a half years for defrauding Medicare of $1.75 million.

Fifty-5-year-old Ajit Trikha (ah-JEET’ TREEK’-ah) pleaded guilty last June in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis to two counts of health care fraud.

Trikha overbilled Medicare and Medicaid for services that weren’t performed, including when he was out of the country. He also billed for group-therapy sessions that far exceeded the 12-person limit set by Medicare and Medicaid.

A federal judge has ordered Trikha to reimburse the government for the money he bilked.

Trikha established his TRX Health Systems in 2000 in Belleville.

Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com