Poplar Bluff doctor, wife plead not guilty in federal court

A Poplar Bluff, Mo., doctor and his wife pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of health care fraud when they were arraigned Friday in U.S. District Court at St. Louis.

Dr. Devendra K. Varma, 76, and Winifred (Veena) Varma, 74, who were indicted July 9 by a federal grand jury in St. Louis, appeared before Magistrate Judge Terry I. Adelman.

Devendra Varma's lawyer is Curtis O. Poore of Cape Girardeau. Winifred Varma was represented by Jasper Edmundson of Poplar Bluff, according to Jan Diltz, public affairs officer in the U.S. attorney's office in St. Louis. He is free on a $50,000 bond, and she was released on her own recognizance.

According to federal prosecutor Michael Reap, the Varmas were indicted in connection with the Haven Hills Medical Clinic, which is owned by the Varmas.

The indictment alleges Devendra Varma falsely reported in patient medical records that he examined and evaluated 92 Medicare and Medicaid patients Jan. 9, 2007, and 75 Medicare and Medicaid patients Jan. 2, 2009.

Varma is accused of falsely representing he examined one patient before prescribing 11 medications Jan. 9, 2007. He is also accused of falsely representing he examined one patient before prescribing 18 medications Jan. 2, 2009. All the prescriptions were filled at Central Pharmacy.

The indictment also charges the Varmas submitted fraudulent statements to Medicare and Medicaid for non-rendered services.

If convicted, the Varmas each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.

They were indicted following an investigation into the billing practices at Haven Hills Medical Clinic and Central Pharmacy Inc. by the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Also assisting in the investigation were members of the DEA, Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Poplar Bluff Police Department.

The federal investigation began in September after the Poplar Bluff Police Department requested assistance.