Court ruling reinstates fraud conviction for Kentucky doctor
COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The health care fraud conviction of a Kentucky doctor accused of performing unnecessary heart procedures has been reinstated.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reported Tuesday that an appeals court’s June ruling has overturned a judge’s acquittal of cardiologist Richard E. Paulus. The ruling reinstated an October 2016 jury conviction on 11 charges.
Paulus was accused of performing unnecessary heart procedures and falsifying records to make the procedures appear necessary before billing insurers. In March 2017, a federal judge ruled that prosecutors didn’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Paulus had “acted with fraudulent intent.”
That judge ordered a new trial, but the appeals court said that decision wasn’t adequately justified. It sent the case back to him for further consideration.
Paulus’ lawyer says he’ll keep seeking an acquittal.