Naimetulla Ahmed Syed, MD, agreed to stop practicing medicine to not renew his physician license as part of the settlement, according to a Jan. 2 news release from the Justice Department.
Dr. Syed operated medical practices in Danbury and New Haven, Conn., according to the release. The Justice Department alleged that Dr. Syed prescribed medically unnecessary drugs, including controlled substances, to patients. The psychiatrist issued prescriptions for “excessive and unsafe amounts of benzodiazepines” to individuals that displayed “red flags” for abuse, the Justice Department alleged.
As part of the settlement, Dr. Syed will pay $455,439 to resolve allegations he violated both the Controlled Substances Act and False Claims Act. Cornerstone Pharmacy, which filled the prescriptions Dr. Syed issued, agreed to pay $120,000 to settle allegations it violated controlled substances laws.
In 2016, Dr. Syed paid more than $400,000 to settle allegations he falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid for psychotherapy services.
