AROUND THE WORLD CHIROPRACTIC
Chiropractor Convicted in Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme
NEW ORLEANS, LA — Dr. Benjamin Tekippe, a 40-yearold chiropractor from New Orleans, was convicted by a federal jury on multiple counts of health care fraud and unemployment insurance fraud, capping a years-long investigation into his illicit operations. Tekippe, who ran Metairie Chiropractic & Rehab, orchestrated a scheme that defrauded Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) out of $740,000 by submitting over $2.3 million in fraudulent claims for services never provided. His tactics included luring patients with promises of “free” massages advertised on social media and at local events like school fairs, only to bill insurers for fictitious chiropractic adjustments. Evidence at trial revealed he even submitted claims while on vacation in Florida or during a brief stint in jail for unrelated charges in 2023, showcasing the audacity of his operation. Additionally, Tekippe exploited COVID-19 relief pro grams, fraudulently collecting $225,000 in unemployment benefits by misrepresenting his business’s status, despite continuing to operate and profit from his clinic. The Justice Department emphasized this case as part of a nationwide effort to curb health care fraud, noting its impact on rising insurance premiums. Tekippe faces sentencing on July 30, 2025, with a potential 20-year prison term looming. Prosecutors hailed the conviction as a victoiy for patients and taxpayers, though Tekippe’s attorney has vowed to appeal, claiming the jury overlooked evidence of legitimate patient care.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice Press Release, April 2, 2025
Chiropractor Faces Allegations of Billing Fraud in Proxy Scheme
LOS ANGELES, CAA civil lawsuit fled on March 20,2025, in Los Angeles has thrust a local chiropractor back into the spotlight, accusing him of a sophisticated billing fraud scheme through his clinic, Advanced Alternative Health. The allegations. brought by the U.S. Department of Labor, claim the chiropractor. previously ousted from the ILWU-PMA Welfare Plan for fraudulent practices, reopened under his sister’s name as a proxy owner to continue defrauding insurers. Between 2017 and 2018, he allegedly billed $500,000 for services never rendered, using unlicensed staff to perform massages while submitting claims under a licensed chiropractor’s credentials. The chiropractor. whose name remains under seal pending court proceedings. reportedly exploited lax oversight to target union health plans, pocketing binds meant for workers’ care. The scheme unraveled after a whistleblower tipped off investigators, leading to a broader probe into proxy ownership in health care fraud. The accused denies intentional wrongdoing, attributing the overbilling to clerical errors and vowing to fight the charges. A court date is yet to be set, but the case could set a precedent for how proxy arrangements are policed in California’s chiropractic industry. Legal experts note this reflects a growing trend of health care providers dodging accountability through family proxies, complicating enforcement efforts. The Department of Laborseeks frill restitution plus penalties, potentially totaling millions if treble damages are applied under the False Claims Act.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Summary, March 20, 2025
Guilty Plea Secures Settlement in Chiropractic Medicare Scam
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Two chiropractors from Philadelphia-area integrative practices, Discover Optimal Healthcare and Yucha Medical Pain Management, finalized a $805,978 settlement after pleading guilty to violating the False Claims Act. The duo, Jason Weigner and Randolph E. Yucha. admitted to billing Medicare for unperformed P-Stim electro-acupuncture treatments between 2018 and 2020, netting illicit reimbursements by miscoding the procedures as surgical interventions. The settlement includes $400,431 already repaid to Medicare, plus an additional $405,547 in penalties, avoiding jail time but placing the chiropractors on probation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office framed this as part of a nationwide crackdown on P-Stim misuse, which has recovered millions since 2021. Evidence showed the chiropractors knowingly used incorrect billing codes pushed by device marketers, exploiting Medicare’s reimbursement structure for profit. Weigner and Yucha expressed remorse. citing pressure from industry norms, but federal officials stressed that ignorance is no defense for fraud. This marks the fourth and fifth P-Stim-related settlement in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, signaling heightened scrutiny of chiropractic billing practices. The case underscores Medicare’s vulnerability to exploitation and the role of whistleblowers in triggering investigations, with CMS vowing stricter oversight of electro-acupuncture claims moving forward.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, March 15, 2025
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