Former Doctor Accused Of Fraud Agrees To Pay $400K Settlement

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A former Maryland physician has agreed to pay $400,000 to the federal government to settle allegations that he fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for nearly five years, the U.S. attorney's office in Maryland said on Dec. 7.

M. Wagdi Attia — who had a medical practice in Gaithersburg — allegedly charged Medicare and Medicaid for psychotherapy services that weren't rendered from Jan. 1, 2013 through May 31, 2017, the federal government said.

According to prosecutors, doctors are required to document certain amounts of face-time with patients. Attia's medical records, however, showed that he spent less time with his patients than required.

"The United States also contends that Dr. Attia's medical records failed to reflect the provision of all elements of the psychotherapy service required, and that the use of repetitive, common language from chart to chart raised questions about the nature and extent of the services actually provided," the attorney's office said in a statement.

Attia had a medical practice in Gaithersburg until April 1, 2018, the attorney's office said. His office was located at 604 S. Frederick Ave.

According to the settlement agreement, Attia has retired, let his medical license expire, and allowed his Medicare and Medicaid billing privileges to lapse.

The $400,000 settlement, prosecutors say, is neither an admission of liability by Attia nor a concession by the federal government that the claims aren't well-founded.

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