Canton Urgent Care Doctor Charged With 22 Counts Of Felony Fraud

LANSING (WWJ) - A Canton-based physician is facing nearly two dozen felony charges for allegedly billing health insurers for services he didn't provide.

Dr. Bassel Altantawi, 45, of Farmington Hills, was charged this week with nine counts of Medicaid fraud, 12 counts of health care fraud, and one count of continuing criminal enterprise.

Altantawi was the only practicing physician at Canton Urgent Care, located at 43033 Ford Road in Canton, according to investigators.

Canton Township Police contacted the Health Care Fraud Division after receiving a complaint that Altantawi was allegedly billing for services not rendered.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said an investigation revealed evidence Altantawi repeatedly billed Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for services he allegedly did not provide to patients.

"We will continue to identify and prosecute unscrupulous health care providers who waste limited health care dollars by fraudulently seeking payment for services they never provided," Schuette said in a statement. "Michigan residents should feel confident that when they see a physician, they receive honest, quality care and accurate billing based on the services provided to them by a physician."

Altantawi was released on $25,000 personal recognizance bond. He's due back in court on May 9 for a preliminary conference.

Investigators believe more patients might have been victimized. Anyone seen by Dr. Altantawi who believes that they were billed for services never provided is encouraged to call the Attorney General's Health Care Fraud Division hotline at 1-800-24-ABUSE.