A Colorado Springs doctor has agreed to pay more than $85,000 to settle a federal lawsuit that accused him of wrongly billing the U.S. military health insurance program, officials said Monday.
Dr. David Hatfield and his company DBH improperly submitted hundreds of claims to the TRICARE United States military health insurance program from 2008 to 2013, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
Hatfield and DBH also agreed to the entry of a more than $1 million consent judgment against them. As part of the settlement terms, Hatfield must pay $1,400 per month.
Hatfield, who provided therapy services to developmentally disabled children, allegedly collected TRICARE payments for things like time spent filling out timesheets, canceled appointments and money or time spent on food and supplies.
“Healthcare providers can only bill the government for the healthcare services they provide,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “When they charge the government for money not owed to them, such as administrative services in this case, they can and will be held responsible for that conduct.”
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@denverpost.com or
