District of Nevada US Attorney office serves a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to Dr. Bashir Chowdhry’s medical practice – Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nevada (CTS) to investigate the fraudulent billing practices.

Dr. Bashir Chowdhry, President of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nevada (CTS), was recently appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval to the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners.

Prior to filing any lawsuit, the Department of Justice (DOJ) routinely issues a Civil Investigative Demand if the DOJ has reason to believe that any person may be in a possession, custody or control of any documentary material or information relevant to a false claims law investigation. A CID is treated the same as an administrative subpoena.

The Civil False Claims Act is a federal statute under which recipients of payments from the Government may be held liable for treble damages and civil penalties if they engage in certain prohibited conduct, including knowingly submitting a claim to the Government which is false or fraudulent.
Prior to issuing CID, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada began an investigation into the billing practices of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nevada.  The investigation, which is continuing, seeks to determine whether the practice has submitted any false claims to the Medicare or Tricare programs which would violate the FCA.

Currently, CID is seeking records relating to 240 Medicare patients of CTS. Also requested are the records relating to 60 Tricare patients. The Government intends to review these records to determine whether there is any evidence of the submission of false claims or other violations of federal laws or regulations by CTS in connection with billing for the treatment of these patients.

Requested records include all patient records, including notes, memoranda, radiographic films, test results, Reports, billing records, payment records, and other documents, relating to each beneficiary of a federal health benefits program who had been billed by the practice at any time since January 1, 2002.

The False Claims Act investigation concerns allegations that Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nevada, Inc. submitted false claims to the government.

District of Nevada US Attorney office serves a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nevada.

President of CTS, Dr. Bashir Chowdhry is a graduate of King Edward Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan. He completed a medical internship at the Toledo hospital and residency in general surgery at Edward Meyer Memorial Hospital, Buffalo, NY. In 1977, Dr. Chowdhry completed Cardiothoracic Surgery fellowship from NY State University, Buffalo, NY. Dr. Chowdhry has been practicing in Vegas since 1977.

Currently, Dr. Bashir Chowdhry is a member of the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners. His term will be expiring in August 2015.

For further details, please see the attachments below.