Texas Doctor Indicted on Felony Workers' Comp Charges

April 13, 2006

Texas Mutual Insurance Company reported that a Travis County grand jury indicted Ihsan Shanti, M.D., and his health care facility, Shanti Pain & Wellness Clinic, on felony workers' compensation fraud-related charges. The indictments were the result of investigations conducted by Texas Mutual and the State Office of Risk Management.

Shanti Pain & Wellness Clinic provides medical services to injured workers in Texas. The indictments allege that between January 2003 and March 2006, Shanti and his clinic over-billed Texas Mutual Insurance Company and the State Office of Risk Management for pain management services in excess of hours actually attended by patients.

The Texas Legislature created Texas Mutual Insurance Company to ensure the availability and affordability of workers' compensation coverage. The company is the state's insurer of last resort for businesses that are unable to find coverage elsewhere. The State Office of Risk Management administers the State Employees Workers' Compensation Program for state agencies and their employees.

The Shanti investigation was part of the Texas Mutual "zero tolerance for fraud" policy. Texas Mutual Insurance Company maintains three teams of investigators permanently assigned to investigate every report of suspected fraud.

Note: A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation - not a conviction - of criminal conduct.

Source: Texas Mutual Insurance Company