Norcross Clinic Owner Sentenced For Healthcare Fraud

ATLANTA - Shinkweon Park has been sentenced for conspiring to commit healthcare fraud by submitting false claims for doctor visits, acupuncture, and physical therapy to Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

“Park cheated our healthcare system by filing over $2 million in fraudulent claims, diverting precious healthcare resources,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.  “He is now being held accountable for his crimes.”

J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “This case not only provides an example of the problems facing the health care industry by those who engage in such extensive schemes to defraud that industry, but also the government’s efforts to eradicate the fraud that is putting such a strain on this industry.  The FBI continues to work with its corporate healthcare partners such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, as well as its law enforcement partners, including the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, in stemming the tide on such damaging healthcare fraud cases that divert programs and services away from those who truly need them.”

“Shin Park used his position to take advantage of the Medicare program by submitting fraudulent claims for services he never rendered for hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries who placed their trust in him to do the right thing,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Atlanta Regional Office.  “Today’s sentence demonstrates that HHS OIG is committed to combatting fraud and protecting America’s most vulnerable citizens, and shows how quickly justice can be achieved when we work closely with our fellow federal law enforcement partners and civilian counterparts.” 

          According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court:  From November 2009 through May 2012, Park owned and operated the LOMA Clinic in Norcross, Ga.  Beginning in April 2010, the clinic began submitting false claims to Medicare in three ways.  First, Park, a licensed acupuncturist, submitted claims for acupuncture treatments, which were not reimbursable by Medicare under any circumstances.  Second, LOMA billed for massage and physical therapy services that were not performed by licensed physical therapists or physical therapy assistants, as required by Medicare.  Third, LOMA billed Medicare for office visits purportedly performed by a medical doctor.  In fact, the doctor hired by LOMA to serve as medical director of the clinic never examined or treated patients.  However, all of LOMA’s claims were submitted using his unique provider code.  Similar false claims were made to Blue Cross Blue Shield.

          Over two years, LOMA submitted over $1.6 million in false claims to Medicare, along with an additional $475,000 in false BCBS claims.  Based upon the claims, Medicare paid LOMA over $969,000, and LOMA received over $210,000 from BCBS.

          Park, 43, of Suwanee, Ga., was sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., to two years, nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,190,166.31.  Park was convicted on these charges on January 6, 2014, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.

          This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.

          Assistant United States Attorney Shanya J. Dingle prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.