AUSTIN, Texas — An Austin-based acupuncturist has been ordered to pay millions in restitution after his clinic overcharged veterans for acupuncture services.
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered Dr. Dongxin Ma and his clinic, Ma Acupuncture Center, to pay $2.3 million to the U.S. under the False Claims Act. The order stems from a lawsuit that alleged Ma submitted inflated bills to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for acupuncture services provided to veterans under the VA’s community care program.
The lawsuit alleged that Ma billed the VA for 60 minutes of one-on-one personal contact for each veteran he treated, despite never spending more than 15 minutes with any patient. The government's complaint alleged Ma billed as much as 61 hours of one-on-one contact with veterans in a single day.
“Health care providers that treat our nation’s veterans must be held to the highest standards,” U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas said. “This office is committed to holding accountable any provider that defrauds a VA health benefits program.”
“This civil settlement is a testament to the VA OIG’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of VA’s health care programs and preserving taxpayer funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South Central Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this case.”