Delran Doctor Charged With Healthcare Fraud: Feds

A doctor based in Delran and Trenton has been charged with health care fraud for billing Medicaid and Medicare for in-person services during periods when he was traveling out of state, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on Wednesday.

Vedat Obuz, 54, of Merion Station, Pennsylvania, is charged by complaint with one count of health care fraud, authorities announced. Obuz made his initial appearance in Newark and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.

Between July 2014 and October 2018, Obuz billed Medicaid for $358,779 and Medicare for $57,396 for patient care that took place when he was traveling and was not present at his medical practice, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.

The medical codes used in the billings indicated that Obuz was the treating physician and the services billed for required him to be physically present to see the patients.

For example, travel records show Obuz was in Tel Aviv, Israel, from Nov. 1-6, 2017, according to authorities. On Nov. 2-4, 2017, Obuz billed Medicare and Medicaid $4,660 for treating approximately 30 patients, authorities said.

Travel records show Obuz was in Istanbul, Turkey, from April 18-22, 2018, according to authorities. On April 19-21, 2018, he billed Medicare and Medicaid $7,770 for treating 53 patients, authorities said.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.