SACRAMENTO – A Southern California Physical Therapist has agreed to have his license revoked as part of a stipulated settlement with the Physical Therapy Board of California following his conviction on fraud charges.
Eddie Choi’s license revocation will be effective March 11, 2015.
In March 2013, Choi plead guilty to illegally paying others to refer patients to him. Choi paid an acupuncturist $3,322.07 to refer Medicare beneficiaries to California Neuro-Rehabilitation Institute located in Los Angeles, which he and a partner owned. Between January 2010 and March 2011, the acupuncturist referred approximately 220 Medical beneficiaries to California Neuro-Rehabilitation Institute. California Neuro-Rehabilitation Institute then billed Medicare for 220 patients for physical therapy services which were never provided. Medicare suffered a loss of $1,058,047.26 for fraudulently billed services.
Choi was obligated to inform the Board of his plea within 30 days of the occurrence. He reported his conviction seven months later.
In June 2014, Choi was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
The Acupuncture Board of California has been notified of the acupuncturist related to this case.
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The Physical Therapy Board regulates more than 27,000 licensees who practice physical therapy in California. The license status of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants can be verified by visiting the Board’s website at www.ptbc.ca.gov. Information about filing complaints against the Board’s licenses is also available on the Board’s website.
