Arizona Physician Convicted of Defrauding Medicaid for Millions
A Yuma doctor has been found guilty of a massive scheme to defraud Arizona’s Medicaid program, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in losses. The conviction highlights serious misuse of a system designed to aid vulnerable residents.
Dr. Irfan Fazil, a physician based in Yuma, faced charges on four felony counts, including fraudulent schemes, illegal control of an enterprise, theft, and illegal drug procurement. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the state’s Medicaid program, was the victim of this extensive fraud.
The verdict was handed down on September 4, revealing that Fazil had invoiced for medical services that were never delivered, such as thousands of unwarranted X-rays and other diagnostic tests.
According to the statement from the state’s Attorney General’s office, the investigation zoomed in on 27 patients with the most significant billing volumes. Alarmingly, one patient was charged for over 1,700 X-rays within six months, a level of exposure that would have been detrimental to their health had they been conducted.
The fraudulent activity allowed Fazil to amass more than $36 million, which he used to acquire luxury items such as real estate, aircraft, jewelry, cryptocurrency, and gold bars.
“Dr. Fazil abused his position as a physician to steal more than $36 million from a taxpayer funded program that exists to provide health care to Arizona’s most vulnerable residents,” remarked Attorney General Kris Mayes. “He billed for thousands of X-rays and other medical treatments that could not possibly have been performed and treated AHCCCS as his personal bank account.”
Additionally, Fazil was found guilty of writing prescriptions for controlled substances for his wife and collecting them from the pharmacy himself.
Consequently, Fazil has relinquished his medical license and DEA registration and is required to repay the entire $36 million. On October 2, he received a sentence of seven and a half years in prison, followed by seven years of probation.
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