Armstrong County physician accused of health care fraud

May 20--An Armstrong County cardiologist promised patients that a treatment for disabling angina was a "fountain of youth" as part of a scheme to defraud government and private insurers out of $2.5 million, federal prosecutors say.

A federal grand jury Tuesday indicted Samirkumar J. Shah, 53, of East Franklin on two counts of health care fraud, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday. Shah couldn't be reached for comment, and there was no attorney listed for him in court records.

Prosecutors say that from January 2008 to December 2014, Shah ran ads offering free screenings for external counterpulsation therapy, an hourlong treatment that uses compression air cuffs on the legs to increase blood flow.

The therapy would relieve symptoms of disabling angina, but Shah claimed it would give the patient more energy, cure erectile dysfunction, help them lose weight and have more stamina, prosecutors say.

Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood.

When he billed insurers, he claimed the patients had been diagnosed with angina, prosecutors say.

Shah said he would waive deductibles and co-pays to encourage people to sign up for the therapy, prosecutors say.

Brian Bowling is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at [email protected] or 412-325-4301.

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