Former health clinic CEO found guilty of defrauding Medicaid: US DoJ

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Sep 2022 00:13

While providing character development courses to children in schools, Victor Kirk falsely claimed to Medicaid he was conducting group psychotherapy.

Saint Gabriel Health Clinic, Louisiana.

The US Justice Department stated on Monday that former St. Gabriel Health Clinic CEO Victor Kirk was sentenced for defrauding the Louisiana Medicaid Program of over $1.8 million, a scheme that he conducted over several years, the statement revealed.

"Kirk was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud," the Justice Department said in a press release.

The St. Gabriel Health Clinic provided health care services to Medicaid beneficiaries and others and was also federally qualified to provide medical services for children in school, such as the Iberville Parish School Board.

According to the Justice Department, Kirk elaborated a scheme that yielded more than $1.8 million in fraudulent claims for psychotherapy services that he and his associates did not actually provide between the years 2011 and 2015.

Instead, the staff provided courses for character development and educational programs of the sort to students during their class hours.

The release added that Kirk, while in charge of the billings, falsely filed to Medicaid under the category of group psychotherapy and instructed his staff to falsely diagnose students with mental health disorders.

The sentencing of Victor Kirk is scheduled on January 12, 2023, with a maximum penalty of 10 years per count, the release stated.