Doctor pleads guilty to bilking VA for hundreds of procedures never performed

A 44-year-old cardiologist from New Jersey pleaded guilty Wednesday to defrauding the Veterans Affairs program by billing for hundreds of procedures he never performed.

Apostolos Voudouris, M.D., pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to healthcare fraud and also entered into a civil settlement agreement under which he will pay $476,460 to resolve the government’s claims under the False Claims Act, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

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Voudouris, who specialized in cardiology and electrophysiology, provided services to veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in East Orange, New Jersey. He admitted that on more than 350 occasions between 2011 and 2015, he submitted claims for procedures he never performed, according to court documents. He received $238,230 from the VA for those fraudulent services.

He now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 12. As part of his plea agreement, Voudouris must pay restitution of $238,230 to the VA in addition to the $476,460 civil settlement, for a total of $714,690.