The DOJ announced that Dr. Rolando Chin, a Panamanian surgeon, pleaded guilty to charges of fraud against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
According to the DOJ, Dr. Chin and other Panamanian medical professionals and pharmacies were found to have submitted false and inflated claims to the VA’s Foreign Medical Program (FMP). The FMP provides medical care for U.S. veterans living abroad. The fraudulent claims included services that were never rendered, medicines that were never received, and deceptive billing practices.
In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a criminal complaint in Panama against nearly 40 defendants, including doctors, pharmacies, corporations, and a hospital which launched an extensive investigation. Panamanian prosecutors, who worked closely with U.S. authorities, initiated formal charges in August 2023. Dr. Chin’s guilty plea marked the first successful prosecution in this case, accompanied by a restitution agreement with the United States.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division commented that “[o]ur efforts in this case have not only recovered funds on behalf of the American taxpayers, but have also prevented significant future losses. We are grateful to our Panamanian colleagues for their ongoing cooperation and collaboration in this matter.” The VA implemented a government-wide suspension of the defendants in August 2024, which is expected to significantly reduce the VA’s expenditures in Panama with the projected savings of approximately $25 million for Fiscal Year 2025.
The attorneys at Chilivis Grubman represent medical professionals in criminal and civil healthcare litigation. If you need assistance with such a matter, please contact us today.