California Division of Workers’ Comp Suspends 21 Medical Providers for Fraud

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation has suspended 21 more medical providers from participating in the state’s workers’ compensation system, bringing the total number of providers suspended this year to 115. The providers were suspended for fraud or other criminal actions.

The suspensions were made possible by the passage last year of Assembly Bill 1244, which requires the DWC administrative director to suspend any medical provider convicted of a crime involving fraud or abuse of the Medi-Cal or Medicare programs or the workers’ comp system, a patient, or related types of misconduct.

DWC Administrative Director George Parisotto issued suspension orders against the following providers:

• George Samuel Laing of Long Beach, manager and operator of Pacific Clinic, was convicted in federal court in 2013 of multiple counts of health care fraud for his involvement in a fraudulent Medicare billing scheme.
• Augustus Ohemeng, Buena Park physician, was convicted in federal court in 2013 of multiple counts of health care fraud for his involvement in a Medicare billing scheme.
• George Tarryk, Long Beach physician, was convicted in federal court in 2013 of one count of health care fraud for his involvement in a fraudulent Medicare billing scheme.
• Emmanuel Chidueme of Anaheim, owner and operator of DME company Ivy Medical Supply, was convicted in federal court of health care fraud, sentenced to 37 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay restitution.
• Sang Ahn, Los Angeles recruiter, was convicted in federal court of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
• Yeong Ja Lee of Los Angeles, employee of home health care provider Greatcare Home Health, was convicted in federal court in 2014 of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
• Edward Bui Hai, Highland physician, had his medical license revoked this year after the Medical Board of California’s decision that the provider is unable to practice medicine safely due to disabling hearing loss, visual impairment and probable dementia.
• Cesar Antonio Banda, Fair Oaks physician, had his medical license revoked this year for prescribing controlled substances to multiple patients without examination or medical indication.
• Margaret Mary Haggerty, Tracy physician, had her medical license revoked this year due to a mental and physical illness that impairs her ability to safely practice medicine.
• Kiansi Blaise Boni, Torrance physician, had his medical license revoked this year for gross negligence and repeated acts of negligence in his treatment of a patient.
• Ariel Eliahou Abrahams, Los Angeles physician, had his medical license revoked this year for failure to comply with the terms of probation imposed by the Medical Board of California following prior disciplinary proceedings.
• Frederick Michael Silvers, Los Angeles physician, had his medical license revoked this year for prescribing controlled substances to patients with histories of substance abuse without clinical support.
• Sacha Comden, Santa Monica physician, had her license revoked this year for violating the terms of her probation imposed by the Medical Board of California.
• Thomas Michael Ehlinger, Ojai physician, had his medical license revoked this year following the stipulated surrender of his medical license from the state of Washington.
• Alfred D. Trotter, Jr., Chula Vista physician, had his medical license revoked this year for gross negligence, failure to diagnose and for performing surgery without appropriate medical indication.
• Daniel Cham, Alhambra physician, was convicted in 2016 in federal court of charges related to the distribution of oxycodone and money laundering. His medical license was revoked in 2016 for conduct leading to his conviction.
• John Anthony Flores, Mission Hills physician, had his medical license revoked in 2016 following the suspension of his New Mexico medical license on the grounds that his continued practice of medicine posed a clear and immediate danger to public health and safety.
• Emilio Joseph Miranda, Los Angeles physician, had his medical license revoked in 2016 for failing to comply with an order from the Medical Board of California compelling him to submit to a mental and physical examination.
• Hrayr Karnig Shahinian, Los Angeles physician, had his medical license revoked in 2016 for advertising untrue and misleading information to patients by overstating his training and qualifications.
• Hossain Sahlolbei, Blythe physician, was convicted of grand theft in Riverside in 2016. His medical license revocation proceeding is pending before the Medical Board of California.
• Charles Roy Phillips, Fresno physician, had his medical license revoked in 2014 due to a mental illness that affects competency.

AB 1244 requires the DWC administrative director to suspend any medical provider, physician, or practitioner from participating in the workers’ comp system in cases in which any of the following is true: They were convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving fraud or abuse of the Medi-Cal or Medicare programs or the workers’ compensation system, fraud or abuse of a patient, or related misconduct; they were suspended due to fraud or abuse from the Medicare or Medicaid programs; or the provider’s license to provide health care has been surrendered or revoked.

Related:

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