Indian-origin doctor pleads guilty to kickbacks to refer patients

Washington: An Indian-American doctor in the US has pleaded guilty to taking kickbacks for diagnostic testing referrals of his patients and failing to file tax returns on USD 1 million of income over a three-year period. Dr Yash Khanna, 72, of Livingston in New Jersey, admitted to earning income of more than USD 381,000 in 2008, USD 400,000 in 2009 and USD 214,000 in 2010. He intentionally failed to file tax returns or ask for extensions during those years, the Justice Department said. He faces a maximum potential penalty of several years in prison and a maximum USD 250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss caused by the offence. [caption id=“attachment_1430481” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Ibnlive[/caption]From 2009 through to 2011 Khanna owned and operated his own medical practice, Family Medicine and Pediatrics LLC, according to court documents. He agreed with representatives of a diagnostic testing facility called Orange Community MRI LLC (Orange MRI) that he would be paid cash in exchange for patients he referred for testing. He received cash kickbacks from Orange MRI for diagnostic tests performed on Medicare and Medicaid patients and met with an Orange MRI representative at his office on 4 October, 2011, and 10 November, 2011, taking envelopes with cash, according to the documents. Khanna acknowledged taking kickbacks from Orange MRI on other occasions as well, federal prosecutors said. PTI