NORTH HOLLYWOOD : U.S. Sues Eye Surgeon in Medicare Claims Fraud

The U.S. government has sued a North Hollywood ophthalmologist convicted of submitting fraudulent Medicare claims in an effort to recover at least $150,000, authorities said Monday.

Dr. Alan R. Schankman was found guilty last year in Superior Court in Van Nuys of 36 grand theft counts in connection with the bogus billings for eye surgeries that never occurred, said Assistant U.S. Atty. David A. Ringnell. Even though the amount of fraudulent billing between 1987 and 1989 amounted to only $56,000, Ringnell said, Schankman was sentenced to 16 months in prison and fined $686,000.

But because those fines would be paid to the state, the federal government filed the civil lawsuit late last week so that the Medicare program can recover the money it lost as a result of the fraud, Ringnell said.

Schankman, who is free on appeal, had no comment when reached at his North Hollywood practice. “This is just a stupid little suit,” said his lawyer, Henry Fenton. “He doesn’t owe any money and he didn’t commit any fraud. I expect we will win the appeal.”