Chiropractor sentenced in fraud, tax evasion case WESTMORELAND WEST VIRGINIA-A Westmoreland County chiropractor who operated two spine clinics in West Virginia will spend 18 months in federal prison for fraudulently billing insurance companies and workers' compensation programs and not paying his taxes. A New Alexandria Chiropractor was sentenced to tliat term in U.S. District Court in Wheeling, where in October lie lad pleaded guilty to health care fraud and tax evasion charges. In addition to tlic false billings, the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS said he deliberately evaded paying income taxes on more than $800,000 he earned in 2008 from his clinics, Wcirton Chiropractic Clinic and Wheeling Spine Center. As part of his plea deal. Yurigan also must pay more than $513.000 in restitution for the health care violations and $322.000 for tax offenses dating to 2005. Yurigan was indicted in 2011 follow ing an investigation by the FBI. IRS. Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation and West Virginia Insurance Commission. Prosecutors in Wheeling also seized his property and his two Mercedes vehicles. Between 2004 and 2009. agents said, he billed for office visits and chiropractic sen ices he never performed. In addition, he concealed his income, destroyed business records and hid assets from the IRS by placing them in the names of his children, according to prosecutors. The case began with a complaint to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, after which agents visited Yurigan's offices numerous times, complaining of fake symptoms and receiving treatment. In one instance, prosecutors said, an agent received massage therapy, but Yurigan billed and was paid for ultrasound, electrical stimulation and other procedures never rendered. In addition, agents determined Yurigan earned about $815.000 from both offices in 2008 but paid no taxes. Agents said he evaded paying $322,690 in taxes from 2005 to 2008. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Alabama Chiropractor Has License Suspended, Again CLANTON. ALABAMA - A Birmingham area chiropractor lias tod his license suspended for six months following multiple complaints tliat he fraudulently ovcrcliargcd patients, in some cases by thousands of dollars. John C. Sparks also faces fines and costs of at least $60,000. Tlic actions were handed down Aug. 22 by tlie Alabama State Board of Chiropractic Examiners in Clanton. On Thursday. Sparks, through his attorneys, asked a Montgomery court to stay tlic suspension and reverse the decision. "Dr. Sparks seeks to reverse the order of the board which has wrongfully suspended (him) ...and enjoined him from, in essence, earning a living." according to the petition filed in Montgomery Count> Circuit Court. Sparks operates Birmingham Spine and Nerve Institute and Green Valley Chiropractic, which list the same address: 3057 Lorna Road, Suite 105. in Hoover. The board found Sparks guilty of unprofessional conduct and fraud in connection with his treatment of four patients, according to records obtained from chiropractic board through a public records request. In one example, a patient was scheduled for 24 treatments for neuropathy but could not finish the final 13 treatments due to a medical condition. Sparks "refused to refund any portion of the amount paid even though lie had not earned that entire amount." according to the board documents. Tlic board said Sparks charged the patient $562 for each day of neuropath} care, a fee that exceeded his usual and customary charge of $360. In another example. Sparks cliargcd a patient $562 per day for neuropath) care and also filed a claim for payment to Medicare and/or Blue Cross Blue Shield, according to the board findings. Spaiks' court filing asking for a judicial review said the board lias overstepped its authority, failed to prove improper gain and made numerous errors in hearing the case. At the time of the current suspension. Sparks was on five years of probation previously imposed by the board July 2. 2012. for "engaging in unprofessional conduct." Source: Alabama Media GroupAl.com Iowa board says chiropractor not ready for license DES MOINES. IOWA - State regulators say a south-central Iowa chiropractor accused of inappropriately touching female patients in the past is not ready to resume practicing. Tlic Iowa Board of Chiropractic says in a filing released Monday tliat it's not willing to risk returning 35->car-old Stuart Hovcn to practice before he can prove to tlic board that lie is not a danger to the public welfare. Hovcn. of Wintcrsct. lias been accused multiple times of inappropriately touching his patients' breasts. Two women reported incidents last year. Other patients reported incidents in 2004. Tlic Dcs Moincs Register reports (http://dmrcg.co/lcwxf5c) Hov-cn's license was suspended in January, but he lias since expressed interest in returning to work. He applied in March for reinstatement. Hovcn's lawyer says he just received the decision and had no comment. Source: The Sacramento Bee
