The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has suspended 27 more medical providers from participating in California’s workers’ compensation system, bringing the total number of providers suspended to 234.
DWC Administrative Director George Parisotto issued suspension orders against the following providers:
The following ten providers participated in an illegal scheme to defraud the Drug MediCal program at Atlantic Health Services of Long Beach, a drug and alcohol recovery program serving high school and middle school students in Los Angeles County:
- Leland G. Whitson, a Redondo Beach physician, was convicted in federal court in 2014 of making false statements affecting a health care program. Whitson, who served as the medical/clinical director at Atlantic Health Services of Long Beach, participated in a scheme that enrolled high school and middle school students in its substance abuse counseling program without regard for the students’ medical necessity. Whitson surrendered his medical license in 2017.
- The providers listed below worked as substance abuse recovery counselors at Atlantic Health Services of Long Beach. They were convicted in federal court in 2016 of health care fraud for their involvement in an illegal scheme to defraud Medi-Cal by falsifying documents and illegally billing for services that were not provided, unnecessary and/or not provided at licensed facilities.
- Elizabeth Black of Long Beach
- Cathy Fernandez of Downey
- Nguyet Galaz of La Puente
- Carrenda Jeffrey of Los Angeles
- Angela Frances Micklo of Lancaster
- Lori Renee Miller of Long Beach
- Maribel Navarro of Norwalk
- Cindy Ortiz of Norwalk
- Shyrie Womack of Bellflower
The following providers were suspended because their licenses were suspended, surrendered or revoked:
- Muhammad Jamil Akhtar, Tempe, Arizona physician, had his medical license revoked in 2017 after the Arizona Medical Board disciplined him for being impaired while on duty at a hospital and refusing to submit to drug testing.
- David Elliot Altman, Chico physician, surrendered his medical license in 2017 after repeatedly committing gross negligent acts in the care and treatment of patients, furnishing dangerous drugs without examinations and failing to maintain adequate records.
- David M. Bee, Loma Linda physician, surrendered his medical license in 2017 after repeatedly committing negligent acts in the care and treatment of a patient, excessively prescribing dangerous drugs without a good faith examination or legitimate medical basis, and failing to maintain adequate and accurate medical records.
- Stephen Richard Lauterbach, Binghamton, New York physician, had his medical license revoked in 2017 after the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct suspended his license indefinitely due to substance abuse.
- Lien Jay Kyri, Huntington Beach physician, had his medical license revoked in 2017 after failing to meet conditions of his probation.
- Lenton Joby Morrow, Sacramento physician, surrendered his medical license in 2017 after he engaged in repeated negligent acts and sexual misconduct with a patient as well as grossly negligent acts in his care and treatment of other patients.
- George N. Queeley, Oakland physician, surrendered his medical license in 2017 after he engaged in sexual misconduct with a patient.
- David Lawrence Kahn, Oakland physician, surrendered his medical license in 2017 after he committed unprofessional negligent acts and failed to maintain adequate medical records in the care and treatment of a patient.
- Christian Le, Portland, Oregon physician, had his medical license revoked in 2017 after the Oregon Medical Board issued an interim stipulated order that prohibited him from signing any Oregon Medical Marijuana Program statements, prescribing any controlled substances, and alleges that he failed to submit to drug tests.
- Dan Sodusta Mallada, Clovis physician, had his medical license revoked in 2017 for violating the conditions of his probation imposed by the Medical Board for repeated gross negligence and incompetence in the care and treatment of patients.
- Chang H. Park, Whittier physician, surrendered his medical license in 2017 after he repeatedly committed gross negligence, failed to perform a good faith examination, and failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care, treatment and management of a patient.
- Jyotsna Sahni, Tucson, Arizona physician, surrendered her medical license in 2017 after the Arizona Medical Board found that she prescribed medications without examining or knowing the individual, without keeping adequate medical records, failing to provide adequate supervision of medical staff, failing to use proper safety protocols and failing to verify staff credentials and training.
- James R. Vevaina, San Diego physician, surrendered his medical license in 2017 after he committed repeated acts of gross negligence in the care and treatment of his patients and failed to maintain adequate and accurate records.
- Renyan Wang, Diamond Bar physician, surrendered his medical license in 2017 after the Medical Board found that his ability to safely practice medicine was impaired. Wang also committed repeated negligent acts in his care and treatment of a patient.
- Douglas Jay Kiviat, San Diego physician, had his medical license revoked in 2017 after the Medical Board determined his illness affected his ability to safely practice medicine.
- Gordon E. Hanusek, Panorama City physician, surrendered his medical license in 2017 because he was unable to engage in the practice of medicine due to physical and mental impairments.
- Kathryn Lisa Cook, Newport Beach physician, surrendered her medical license in 2017 due to an ongoing health condition.
Source: CA DWC