The Drug Enforcement Agency seized patient records late Wednesday afternoon from Urgent Care facilities in Grand Junction and Montrose and from the Delta office of Dr. Sam Jahani, an internist, and Dr. Eric Anthony Peper, a thoracic surgeon.
The Department of Justice issued a statement that patients of Peper’s and Jahani’s who need copies of their own medical files, must request them through another medical practitioner. The medical practitioner may request copies by calling (720) 895-4269.
U.S. attorney spokesman Jeff Dorschner said he could not comment on the nature of any ongoing investigation of the physicians. Justice would not release the federal search warrant affidavit.
No arrests were made Wednesday.
The IRS Criminal Division and several other federal, state and county agencies are involved. Authorities also searched Peper’s residence in Whitewater and Jahani’s residence in Montrose.
In 2000, the Justice Department joined a whistleblower lawsuit alleging Medicare fraud in excess of $200 million by a Dallas hospital called Integrated Health Services. The suit also named Jahani, then medical director at IHS and an internist in private practice in Dallas. The case was settled in 2004 with IHS agreeing to pay $19 million.
Electa Draper: 303-954-1276 or edraper@denverpost.com
