U. of Saskatchwan Psychiatrist Akinlolu Olalekan Peluola, Charged with $90K Billing Fraud, Now Faces Disciplinary Action

November 3, 2023

A 65-year-old Saskatoon psychiatrist already facing a criminal charge for allegedly defrauding the Saskatchewan government of $90,000 in billing services is now facing a disciplinary charge laid by the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr. Akinlolu Olalekan Peluola, who practices at Victory Medical Associates in Saskatoon, was charged on July 25 with one count of fraud over $5,000. (Psychcrime: It is also noted that he is Clinical Associated Professor of Psychiatry at University of Saskatchewan.)

The college, which regulates and licenses physicians practising in the province, charged him on Oct. 10 with six counts of “unbecoming, improper, unprofessional, or discreditable conduct.”

The associate registrar, Bryan Salte, said in an email that Peluola has neither admitted nor denied the charges.

“The College cannot comment on the next steps until Dr. Peluola decides whether to admit or deny the charges,” he said.

Peluola’s lawyer, George A. Green, said his client’s criminal case was being adjourned to later this month, but otherwise had no comment.

The allegations follow the college’s investigation of Peluola, a separate process from the police investigation.

The college alleges in the first count that Peluola excessively billed the medical services branch of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health and/or claimed for services not provided by his practice between September 2016 and December 2018, related to billing codes for “simple psychological testing,” “adult consultation” and “child consultation.”

In the second count, the college alleges Peluola either excessively billed and/or claimed for services not provided to patients at Spruce Manor Special Care Home and/or at Warman Mennonite Special Care Home between September 2016 and December 2018.

A third charge alleges Peluola excessively billed and/or claimed for services not provided at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre, also between September 2016 and December 2018.

The college alleges in the fourth charge that Peluola knowingly gave the preliminary inquiry committee false or misleading statements when questioned about his billings. A preliminary inquiry committee investigates complaints of unprofessional conduct and it prepares a report for the college’s executive committee to consider and decide if it will lay a charge.

Pelulola is accused in a fifth charge by the college of attempting to influence the information his office assistant provided to the preliminary inquiry committee while he was under investigation.

The college alleges, in the sixth charge, that Peluola gave false or misleading statements to the Joint Medical Professional Review Committee — a peer-review committee of physicians who review doctors’ billing patterns — when he was interviewed about his billings.

A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.

Peluola has no prior discipline by the college on record. His licence, due to end Nov. 30, remains in good standing, according to the college’s website.

City police had charged Peluola after a lengthy investigation. Police said in a previous media release that the college notified investigators in February 2022 of “suspected fraudulent activity” related to a Saskatoon psychiatrist’s medical billings.

The police investigation found that a government agency had been defrauded of $90,000 after it was billed for “fraudulent services” between September 2017 and December 2018, according to a court document obtained by the StarPhoenix.

Peluola is next scheduled to appear in Saskatoon provincial court in the criminal matter on Nov. 14.

Source: Thia James, “Saskatoon psychiatrist accused in $90K billing fraud now facing professional discipline charges,” Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Nov. 1, 2023, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/saskatoon-psychiatrist-accused-in-90k-billing-fraud-now-facing-professional-discipline-charges