Ga. Doctor Pleads Guilty in $5 Million Health Care Fraud

A Savannah doctor pled guilty to participating in a $5 million scheme to defraud Georgia health care insurance programs.

Rafael G. Razuri, who was an owner of Southside Medical and Rehabilitation Center, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

A co-defendant, Eric J. Baty, a chiropractor formerly of Savannah, pled guilty to the same charge on June 4.

Razuri was indicted in January after a federal and state investigation into billings to Medicare, Georgia Medicaid and private insurance companies for physical therapy services to Southside patients.

Evidence showed that from July 2000 through June 2005, Razuri conspired to bill more than $5 million in fradulent physical therapy claims, and to defraud private insurers by creating false records of automobile accident victims, the prosecutors said.

Razuri remains on bond pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. The offense carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.