A dermatologist operating out of a Turlock office was indicted by a federal grand jury on allegations of fraud.
A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment Thursday against Basil Hantash, 44, of Hughson, charging him with health care fraud, according to the United States Attorney General’s Office.
According to court documents, Hantash is a dermatologist and the medical director of Advanced Skin Institute in Turlock. From 2011 through April 2016, Hantash submitted claims to private insurance companies requesting payment for performing acne surgeries. It is alleged that staff at ASI had performed only cosmetic procedures known as microdermabrasions, or chemical peels. Two insurers, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California, paid ASI a total of approximately $220,000 during that time for claimed acne surgeries.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Michael G. Tierney is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Hantash faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of health care fraud. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.