London cardiologist sentenced to 42 months for unnecessary pacemakers, health care fraud

Tuesday, a U.S. District Court Judge sentenced Dr. Anis Chalhoub, of London, to 42 months in federal prison.

In April 2018, a jury declared Dr. Chalhoub guilty of health care fraud after hearing evidence that dozens of the pacemakers he implanted in his patients between 2007 and 2011 were medically unnecessary according to national guidelines.

The cardiologist then billed the procedures and follow-up care to Medicare, Medicaid and other insurers.

This took place at St. Joseph London hospital. Patients testified that Dr. Chalhoub pressured them into getting the pacemakers and gave misleading information about their medical conditions. Some even said he told them they might die without a pacemaker.

Health insurance companies lost hundreds of thousands of dollars due to Dr. Chalhoub's actions, according to court evidence.

In addition to his 42-month sentence, Dr. Chalhoub has to pay a $50,000 fine and repay Medicare, Medicaid and other private insurers $257,515. He will not be allowed to practice cardiology for three years after he is released from prison.