Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Drake announced a $501,556 civil settlement between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri and a Missouri psychiatrist to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act (FCA).
The allegations involved Dr. Mohd Azfar Malik, who reportedly submitted false claims to Medicare and Missouri Medicaid from January 1, 2019, through May 31, 2024. It was alleged that Dr. Malik falsely indicated he provided face-to-face psychotherapy when he was not present and billed for services rendered by others. Dr. Malik co-owned Behavioral Health Services, LLC, which operated Psych Care Consultants in St. Louis.
The settlement includes $250,778 in restitution, doubled under the FCA guidelines.
The agreement does not include an admission of liability from Dr. Malik. In April 2025, he pleaded guilty to making false statements related to federal health care matters and admitted submitting false claims for services allegedly performed while he was outside Missouri or abroad. His sentencing is scheduled for August 11.
Linda T. Hanley of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General stated: “Holding health care professionals accountable for submitting false claims for financial gain is crucial for maintaining public trust and ensuring that critical resources are appropriately utilized.” She added that their office would continue collaborating with law enforcement partners to protect Medicare and Medicaid programs’ integrity.
This settlement resulted from joint efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, HHS/OIG Office of Investigations, the Missouri Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
