Physician Sentenced for Health Care Fraud

BEAUMONT � An Angelina County physician has been sentenced to federal prison for health care fraud violations. Dr. Alexander Orlov, D.O., 47, of Lufkin, pleaded guilty last November, to conspiracy to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. He was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark. Orlov was also ordered to pay $309,000 in restitution and a $30,000 fine.

According to federal prosecutors, from November 2008 to April 2010, Orlov, a physician and the owner of a Lufkin medical practice and urgent care clinic, and an employee, Haseeb Rehman, submitted claims for physicians’ services to Medicare and Medicaid for services provided by Rehman, who was not a licensed medical professional. Orlov controlled and operated Lufkin Urgent Care, P.A. He employed Rehman to run Lufkin Urgent Care. He treated patients, prescribed medication, performed minor surgical procedures, and operated within Lufkin Urgent Care as if he were a licensed medical professional. Claims were submitted to Medicare and Medicaid for Rehman’s services representing that the services were provided by a physician. As a result of these claims, Orlov unlawfully obtained more than $250,000 from Medicare and Medicaid. Orlov was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of last year and charged with conspiracy to defraud Medicare and Medicaid.