Paintsville Doctor Agrees To Pay U.S. Government $200,000 To Settle Civil Allegations

Doctor has surrendered medical license

LEXINGTON, KY - A former Paintsville, KY., physician has agreed to pay the U.S. Government $200,000 to settle civil allegations that he improperly billed federal health care programs and failed to maintain documentation required to support reimbursement payments.

Under federal law, the Medicare and Medicaid programs reimburse physicians for procedures that are deemed medically necessary. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, on behalf of the Government, contends that, from January 2008 through December 2011, Dr. Don V. Bryson failed to keep documentation that supported the medical necessity of procedures for which he had billed Medicare and Medicaid for reimbursement.

The Government further contends that Bryson had submitted claims seeking reimbursement for services to patients that he failed to properly authorize or oversee.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Bryson will return $152,000 to repay the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services and $48,000 to repay the Medicare program.

Previously, in June 2012, Bryson also agreed with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure to surrender his medical license.

Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky announced the settlement agreement today.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valorie D. Smith represented the Government in this case.