Incident 40136
Incident 40136
Doctor sentenced to 7 years for fraudulently billing health care programs for prescribing without a medical purpose.
A Houston-area physician and anesthesiologist at two registered pain clinics, Texas Pain Solutions and Integra Medical Clinic, was sentenced today to seven years in prison for his role in fraudulently billing health care programs for at least $5 million dollars in medical tests and procedures, and for the role his fraud played in multiple patient deaths.
Rezik Saqer, 66, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal of the Southern District of Texas. Chief Judge Rosenthal also ordered the defendant to pay $5 million in restitution. Saqer pleaded guilty on July 3, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to the evidence presented at sentencing, Saqer’s health care fraud scheme involved luring vulnerable patients to his clinics by prescribing powerful opioid narcotics, and then requiring the patients to submit to unnecessary and dangerous procedures and tests, which were often performed by Saqer’s unlicensed staff and fraudulently billed to health care providers. Saqer’s scheme contributed to multiple overdose deaths, as well as the death of a young family in an auto accident involving one of Saqer’s patients, according to the evidence.
According to the court’s judgment, Saqer was responsible for fraudulently billing health care providers for at least $14,665,357.54.
Where the Diversion Occurred:
Texas Pain Solutions
11037 Farm to Market 1960 Rd W, Houston, TX 77065
Type of Healthcare Facility:
Pain Clinic
Person Diverting:
Rezik Saqer
Profession of the person diverting:
Physician or Medical Doctor (MD)
Has the incident been reported?
e.g. to local law enforcement, county board of health, state licensure board, and/or federal DEA or FDA authorities?
Yes
To whom has the incident been reported?
Local Law Enforcement, , and/or federal DEA or FDA authorities?
