Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
China Times [Wang Zhihong / Kaohsiung Report] October 23, 2011
Nine years ago, Dr. Wu Ping-jian was responsible for a medication error incident at Chong Ai Clinic in Donggang, Pingtung, which resulted in the death of a 10-month-old baby girl surnamed Tsai. Recently, Wu was again involved in a scandal for forging medical records and prescriptions to fraudulently claim NT$5 million in National Health Insurance (NHI) reimbursements. Police raided the four chain clinics he operated, seizing account books and other evidence. After questioning, Wu and his secretary, Hsu Jui-lin, were released on bail for NT$1 million and NT$800,000, respectively.
After the incident at Chong Ai Clinic, Wu was ordered by health authorities to suspend operations for one year. He later renamed the clinic De Hong Clinic and resumed business. Together with his live-in partner Hsu Jui-lin, who also served as a clinic secretary, he expanded operations to include Wu Ping-jian Pediatric Clinic in Daliao, Yong Xin Clinic in Fengshan, and Meng Chang Clinic.
Recently, whistleblowers reported that Wu’s four clinics allegedly used elderly patients or relatives' NHI cards stored at the clinics to forge medical records and falsely claim reimbursements for expensive medications from the NHI Bureau. This fraudulent activity reportedly lasted over three years.
Kaohsiung District Prosecutors’ Office chief prosecutor Lu Hsing-ling and prosecutor Kan Jo-ping directed the Criminal Investigation Bureau’s Southern Task Force to gather evidence. After more than four months of cross-checking and analyzing NHI claims and patient records, investigators found strong evidence implicating Wu and Hsu.
On the 20th, the Southern Task Force, armed with search warrants, mobilized over 60 officers and 10 prosecutors, along with the NHI Bureau’s Kaohsiung-Pingtung branch, to raid the clinics. They summoned Wu, 10 other medical staff (including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and administrative personnel), and 15 patients for questioning.
Investigators discovered that Wu’s fraudulent methods included recording extra outpatient visits when patients picked up medication or forging additional medical check-up records. In some cases, patients were found to have visited two different clinics in separate regions on the same day, with each fraudulent claim netting nearly NT$500 in consultation and medication fees. Over three years, the total fraudulent claims amounted to approximately NT$5 million.
Wu and Hsu denied the allegations, but over 10 individuals, including pharmacists, nurses, administrative assistants, and patients, admitted their involvement. After questioning, prosecutors identified seven individuals involved in the fraud, who were released on bail ranging from NT$10,000 to NT$30,000. Wu and Hsu were released on bail for NT$1 million and NT$800,000, respectively.
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Doctor Accused of $5M Insurance Fraud, Released on $1M Bail
Nine years ago, Dr. Wu Ping-jian was responsible for a medication error incident at Chong Ai Clinic in Donggang, Pingtung, which resulted in the death of a 10-month-old baby girl surnamed Tsai. Recently, Wu was again involved in a scandal for forging medical records and prescriptions to fraudulently claim NT$5 million in National Health Insurance (NHI) reimbursements. Police raided the four chain clinics he operated, seizing account books and other evidence. After questioning, Wu and his secretary, Hsu Jui-lin, were released on bail for NT$1 million and NT$800,000, respectively.
After the incident at Chong Ai Clinic, Wu was ordered by health authorities to suspend operations for one year. He later renamed the clinic De Hong Clinic and resumed business. Together with his live-in partner Hsu Jui-lin, who also served as a clinic secretary, he expanded operations to include Wu Ping-jian Pediatric Clinic in Daliao, Yong Xin Clinic in Fengshan, and Meng Chang Clinic.
Recently, whistleblowers reported that Wu’s four clinics allegedly used elderly patients or relatives' NHI cards stored at the clinics to forge medical records and falsely claim reimbursements for expensive medications from the NHI Bureau. This fraudulent activity reportedly lasted over three years.
Kaohsiung District Prosecutors’ Office chief prosecutor Lu Hsing-ling and prosecutor Kan Jo-ping directed the Criminal Investigation Bureau’s Southern Task Force to gather evidence. After more than four months of cross-checking and analyzing NHI claims and patient records, investigators found strong evidence implicating Wu and Hsu.
On the 20th, the Southern Task Force, armed with search warrants, mobilized over 60 officers and 10 prosecutors, along with the NHI Bureau’s Kaohsiung-Pingtung branch, to raid the clinics. They summoned Wu, 10 other medical staff (including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and administrative personnel), and 15 patients for questioning.
Investigators discovered that Wu’s fraudulent methods included recording extra outpatient visits when patients picked up medication or forging additional medical check-up records. In some cases, patients were found to have visited two different clinics in separate regions on the same day, with each fraudulent claim netting nearly NT$500 in consultation and medication fees. Over three years, the total fraudulent claims amounted to approximately NT$5 million.
Wu and Hsu denied the allegations, but over 10 individuals, including pharmacists, nurses, administrative assistants, and patients, admitted their involvement. After questioning, prosecutors identified seven individuals involved in the fraud, who were released on bail ranging from NT$10,000 to NT$30,000. Wu and Hsu were released on bail for NT$1 million and NT$800,000, respectively.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E9……A% A4% E4% BF% 9D- 213000566. html