ENCINO : Psychiatrist Indicted in Alleged Billing Scheme
A federal grand jury indicted an Encino psychiatrist Thursday for allegedly submitting $730,000 in false bills to Medicare and private California insurers.
Dr. Joseph Ezra faces 11 counts of conspiracy and mail fraud in the billing scheme, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Charles Kreindler. If convicted, Ezra could face up to 55 years in prison and more than $2.7 million in fines.
Ezra, 49, is accused of allowing Reseda Primary Care Services to use his medical license to charge insurers for tests that were either never performed or medically unnecessary.
Kreindler alleged that the psychiatrist never met, tested or treated any of the Reseda Primary patients, even though he certified on claim forms that the tests and examinations were performed and were necessary.
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