DETROIT—Dr. Farid Fata is appealing
his 45-year sentence and conviction to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of
Appeals.  Fata was sentenced to federal
prison in July. Additionally, the victims of the former oncologist are expected
to receive millions of dollars in compensation from funds the federal
government has recovered.

According to federal prosecutors, between
$13 million and $14 million has been recovered from Fata to date. In July, Fata—
who pled guilty to misdiagnosing patients and making them undergo excessive
unnecessary treatments, so he could charge Medicare for high-cost procedures— was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

During a restitution hearing in federal court, prosecutors
said Fata’s victims would be first in line to get compensation. Some patients could
be compensated for any out-of-pocket medical expenses they incurred as a result
of Fata’s treatments causing additional health problems.

Medicare and private insurance companies could also receive
some restitution payments. Fata was part of a $35 million scheme to submit false
claims to Medicare last year. In addition, federal investigators allege that
from August 2007 to July 2013, Fata’s health maintenance organization billed Medicare
for around $225 million, of which $109 million was for chemotherapy or other
cancer treatments. Many of the treatments were administered to people who did not
have cancer.

Fata victimized 533 patients, according to the government.
Many of those patients have filed malpractice lawsuits.