Physician pays nearly half million dollars to resolve home health care fraud allegations

HOUSTON – A doctor of osteopathic medicine from Bellaire has paid to resolve allegations he falsely certified patients for home health services and received improper payments, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Truc Le, 51, is a primary care physician in southwest Houston.

In 2016, authorities began an investigation into a home health agency known as Unified Medical Group Inc. That investigation appeared to show Le had certified patients for home health services without any knowledge of the patients’ medical condition or homebound status. Instead, Le signed forms that Unified representatives provided to him on a regular basis.    

In addition, Unified sent improper payments to Le in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. It prohibits offering or paying remuneration to induce the referral of items or services that Medicare, Medicaid and other federally-funded programs cover. Claims submitted to these programs in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute give rise to liability under the False Claims Act. 

“Medical professionals put the integrity of our federal health care programs at risk when they just rubber-stamp forms,” said Lowery. “It is made worse when improper payments are the source of their motivation. With the investigative assistance of our federal and state partners, we will continue to do what we can to protect our nation’s systems and the citizens they are designed to serve.

Le has agreed to pay $475,000 to resolve the allegations.

The Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, FBI and Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Green, Brad Gray and Andrew Bobb handled the matter on behalf of the United States. 

The claims resolved by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.