Psychiatrist Muhammad Cheema Charged with Health Care Fraud

Rochester/Pittsford, N.Y. – Psychiatrist Muhammad Cheema has been charged with health care fraud and making false statements relating to healthcare matters. Prosecutors say that investigation found Cheema upcoded patients’ office visits on a regular basis and billed health care programs for services he didn’t provide. 

 

Court papers allege Cheema accepted more than $220,000 dollars to promote for pharmaceutical companies and consulting opportunities in 2016. Between January 2012 and July of last year, investigators estimate Cheema submitted nearly $1.8 million in fraudulent claims.

 

Prosecutors also say Cheema also submitted a fake certificate that said he was board-certified in psychiatry. Allegedly, FBI agents determined the certificate was made on a desktop computer, using a certificate that actually belonged to an Arizona psychiatrist.

 

Cheema appeared in federal court Monday for an initial appearance. He is due back in court in September.