Patient: Indicted cardiologist sends bill, but she still can’t get medical records

The former patient of a cardiologist facing federal health care fraud charges said she was surprised to get a bill on Monday.

This, when she still can’t access her medical records after the office, the Ohio Institute of Cardiac Care, was shut down.

RELATED: Medical records for patients of indicted cardiologist ‘in no man’s land’

Dr. Salim Dahdah and his wife, Cindy, are accused of fraud, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Dayton. Multiple patients say this case has caused them trouble.

“It’s very frustrating, especially when you have heart issues. I’ve had heart issues, been Dr. Dahdah’s patient for over 20 years, so he has every record of my issues that I’ve had,” said a woman who declined to be identified. “Every test that I’ve had, stress tests, heart catheterization, everything.”

RELATED: Springfield cardiologist among hundreds charged with health care fraud

She, like another woman who spoke to this news organization two weeks ago, has not been able to access medical records ever since Dahdah’s offices in Springfield and Englewood shut down amid a federal investigation.

In January 2015, investigators raided Dahdah’s practice.

In 2017, he and his wife were among more than 400 indicted nationwide, in what the U.S. Justice Department called a “health care fraud takedown.”

The Dahdahs are accused of fraudulently receiving more than $2 million in Medicare and Medicaid money for allegedly ordering unnecessary tests.

On top of the trouble getting her records, this patient said she was surprised to receive an invoice from the Dahdahs on Monday in the mail.

RELATED: Patients react to fraud indictment of Springfield cardiologist

More surprising was where she was supposed to send her check.

“When I looked up that address, it came up as a personal residence of Mrs. Cindy Dahdah,” she said, which was in Beavercreek.

Also, the invoice did not have a phone number, just the address.

The patient said she called the FBI on Monday but didn’t get any real answers.

“With them still trying to collect money and it going to their personal residence after they’ve been shut down, to me it is kind of crooked,” she said.

Dahdah and his wife are set for trial Oct. 9 in Columbus. They have pleaded not guilty, according to court records.

Their attorney has not returned requests for comment.

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