Calgary doctor submitted $2.2M in fraudulent billing: police
Posted April 17, 2024 9:45 am.
A Calgary doctor is facing charges following an investigation into allegations of fraudulent billing, police say.
Calgary police say they were alerted by Service Alberta’s Health Investigations Unit after they conducted an investigation into a doctor who allegedly submitted around $2.2 million worth of false billing claims to the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan over a two-year period.
From March 2020 to June 2022, the Health Investigations Unit investigated the billing history of a doctor working at the SF Medical Clinic located at 1106 Edmonton Trail NE, and reported the findings to police.
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Investigators allege the doctor was billing for more hours than she worked.
Shabeena Fazhulla has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000 in relation to the fraudulent billing submissions.
The 49-year-old is set to appear in court on May 16.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA), which is responsible for the registration, regulation, and discipline of doctors in the province, tells CityNews when it learns of criminal charges against a physician, a complaint is opened and an investigation is launched to gather information and determine next steps.
The CPSA explains this could include practice conditions on a physician’s permit, or the physician’s withdrawal or suspension from practice, depending on the seriousness of the allegations and the risk to patient safety.
Dr. Fazhulla’s practice permit is currently active, according to the college. If this changes, it will be reflected on her public-facing CPSA profile.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234 or anonymously through CrimeStoppers.
