PITTSBURGH – A former doctor pleaded responsible at present in federal court docket to a well being care fraud cost related to the ache administration observe, Jefferson Ache and Rehabilitation Heart, United States Lawyer Cindy Okay. Chung introduced at present.
Dr. John Keun Sang Lee, age 79, of Venetia, Pennsylvania, pleaded responsible to 1 depend of well being care fraud earlier than United States District Decide W. Scott Hardy.
In reference to the responsible plea, the court docket was suggested that between in and round Might 2016 to in and round October 2020, Lee knowingly and willfully submitted claims for steroid injections to Medicare and Medicaid that have been neither affordable nor medically vital. Based on former sufferers and staff, Lee required sufferers to undergo steroid injections, even when sufferers reported that the injections weren’t serving to however moderately inflicting them extra ache and different accidents. Lee additionally instructed staff to withhold affected person remedy if sufferers objected to the injections. So as to justify billing insurance coverage firms for the medically pointless injections, Lee directed employees to make use of templates indicating that sufferers acquired 80% reduction from prior ache injections.
Decide Hardy scheduled sentencing for March 7, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. The legislation supplies for a most sentence of 10 years in jail, a positive of $250,000.00, or each. Beneath the Federal Sentencing Tips, the precise sentence imposed relies upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior legal historical past, if any, of the defendant.
As a part of his plea settlement, Lee has agreed to pay $264,730 in restitution to the US Division of Well being & Human Providers and $153,230 to the Pennsylvania Division of Human Providers for losses related to the fraudulent billings. Lee additionally has agreed to voluntarily give up his medical license and DEA registration and to not keep any possession or administration curiosity in any medical clinic or facility.
Assistant United States Lawyer Karen Gal-Or is prosecuting this case on behalf of the federal government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Division of Well being & Human Providers, and the Drug Enforcement Administration carried out the investigation resulting in the Indictment on this case.