Justice For Dr. Patwardhan

Dr. Pat was placed in an EXCLUSION status by the Office of Inspector General, Dept. of Health and Human Services, prohibiting him from participation in any Federal health care programs and severely handicapping him from providing health care to his patients.

On the recommendation of the Director of the State of California's Department of Health Care Services, The OIG subsequently agreed to extend the scope of this waiver, however, this has unfortunately had no beneficial effect on Dr. Pat-s ability to save lives due to a) the geographic restrictions imposed by OIG severely limiting the ability of his patients to receive the medical care they need and b) the inherent system of billing used by insurance companies and various medical providers.

The unduly harsh and systematic restrictions imposed on Dr. Pat by the insurance companies run counter to the true intentions of Judge Virginia Phillips as reflected in her sentencing at Dr. Pat-s trial where she stated that Dr. Patwardhan's history can only be called a lifetime of service to his profession and the provision of medical care without regard to his patient-s ability to pay for it.

She proceeded to describe letters by scores of persons who have been treated by Dr. Patwardhan - many having been treated without charge because they could not afford their co-payment. She further noted that the letters of support came from patients from all walks of life, from those who are well-educated and well-to-do and have their choice of physicians but choose him, to many indigent people who might otherwise not receive this quality of care.

Fellow physicians attested to Dr. Patwardhan's integrity, philanthropy and always referred to him with the highest professional regard and concluded that none of his patients received care below the standard of care in the community.