Fata wants 45-year prison sentence appealed

DETROIT - Dr. Farid Fata is appealing his 45-year sentence and conviction to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Fata was sentenced to federal prison in July. Additionally, the victims of the former oncologist are expected to receive millions of dollars in compensation from funds the federal government has recovered.

According to federal prosecutors, between $13 million and $14 million has been recovered from Fata to date. Fata- who pled guilty to misdiagnosing patients and making them undergo excessive unnecessary treatments, so he could charge Medicare for high-cost procedures- was sentenced in July.

During a restitution hearing in federal court, prosecutors said Fata's victims would be first in line to get compensation. Some patients could be compensated for any out-of-pocket medical expenses they incurred as a result of Fata's treatments causing additional health problems.

Medicare and private insurance companies could also receive some restitution payments. Fata was part of a $35 million scheme to submit false claims to Medicare last year. In addition, federal investigators allege that from August 2007 to July 2013, Fata's health maintenance organization billed Medicare for around $225 million, of which $109 million was for chemotherapy or other cancer treatments. Many of the treatments were administered to people who did not have cancer.

Fata victimized 533 patients, according to the government. Many of those patients have filed malpractice lawsuits.®