Woman pleads not guilty to chemotherapy fraud charges

A former cancer clinic worker pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 11 federal charges alleging that old needles were used on multiple patients and they were given less chemotherapy or cheaper drugs than they were led to believe. Prosecutors say the Rose Cancer Center in Summit, Miss., was involved in a multimillion-dollar Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Between 150 and 200 former patients have been tested for HIV and Hepatitis since the clinic was shut down in July, and testing continues. Mississippi Department of Health officials say none of the patients tested so far have been infected with HIV or Hepatitis B or C. Some of the counts in the indictment allege that the care caused serious bodily harm, but investigators have not been more specific. Mississippi Department of Health officials began investigating the clinic after 11 patients went to a hospital with the same infection. When asked Tuesday if any patients died from the care they received, Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Gilbert told The Associated Press: "At this point the indictment doesn’t make such an allegation, but the investigation continues."