The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has immediately suspended the medical license of Gope Chelaram Hotchandani, M.D., based on his conviction in the United States District Court, Western District of Michigan.

On or about Oct. 6, 2008, Hotchandani, 61, was convicted of one felony count of Health Care Fraud-Omnilux Treatment. As a result, Hotchandani was sentenced to serve 30 days in prison, followed by supervised release for a period of three years with terms, and ordered to pay a fine and restitution totaling $38,656.14. The conviction was based on Hotchandani billing Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan for higher level of services than what he actually provided to patients.

On Feb. 25, 2009, MDCH issued an order immediately suspending Hotchandani's license pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional's license upon the conviction of a felony, a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a maximum term of two years, or a controlled substance-related conviction. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Hotchandani's license to practice medicine.

For more information on disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards within MDCH, please go to http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, and click on Health Systems and Licensing.