Cambridge area psychiatrists to pay more than half million dollars in False Claims Act settlement

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a False Claims Act Settlement signed this week, two eastern Ohio psychiatrists and their practice group have agreed to pay more than $500,000 to the United States for submitting false claims to Medicare.

According to the settlement, Drs. Ali and Imad Melhelm submitted claims to Medicare from January 2013 through December 2019 that violated the False Claims Act. The doctors are practicing psychiatrists with Neurobehavioral Medicine Consultants, PC, Inc. (NMC), which provides mental health services and substance abuse treatments to patients in several states. Dr. Ali Melhelm is the owner of NMC. Both individuals served as treating psychiatrists at Cambridge Behavioral Hospital in Guernsey County. Ali Melhelm also served as the inpatient facility’s Medical Director.

The United States asserted that the doctors admitted medically ineligible patients to the hospital, improperly delayed patient discharges, and billed for services and visits that did not occur or were billed at a higher rate than was supported by the records.

As part of the settlement, the Melhelms will pay $549,092 to the United States, of which $274,546 is restitution.

Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew M. Malek, Brandi Stewart and Michael Downey are representing the United States in this case.

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