An orthopedic surgeon in the Hudson Valley has pleaded guilty to a health-care fraud scheme.
A U.S. attorney says the Dutchess County surgeon Thursday pleaded guilty to operating a long-running health care fraud scheme in which he defrauded Medicare, the New York State Insurance Fund, and numerous private health insurance providers out of more than $2.5 million by lying about the nature and scope of the surgical procedures he performed. 45-year-old Dr. Spyros Panos, from Hopewell Junction, was part of a medical group with offices in Dutchess County and performed surgical procedures at hospitals in Poughkeepsie. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara says Dr. Panos filed claims for thousands of surgical procedures, often more than 20 a day, billing more than $35 million. Panos, who surrendered his New York State medical license, faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in March.