Texas Department of Insurance, June 29th 2020
Three Arlington, Texas health care providers will face trial for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and mail fraud.
On June 17, 2020, a federal grand jury returned indictments against Dr. Clinton Battle, his nurse practitioner Donna Green, and his medical assistant Yajaira Lopez.
According to the indictments, Battle allegedly issued prescriptions for controlled substances without conducting a proper medical exam, knowing the drugs would likely be distributed illegally. The indictments allege that Battle allowed Green to use his DEA registration number and medical credentials to issue these prescriptions. Battle and Lopez also allegedly submitted falsified claims to health insurers and to the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC).
According to the indictments, these claims were for services not actually provided, or for exams performed by a non-licensed person. The claims also allegedly falsified the amount of time spent on exams. If convicted, Battle faces up to 15 years in federal prison. Green and Lopez face up to 10 and five years, respectively.
“These indictments underscore DWC’s commitment to ensuring a fair workers’ compensation system and holding accountable those who may abuse their positions of trust,” says DWC’s Deputy Commissioner of Compliance and Investigations, Debra Knight.
DWC’s Fraud Unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Postal Service, and the IRS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is an allegation of criminal conduct. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
You can report suspected workers’ compensation fraud by calling 1-844-FRAUD99 (1-844-372-8399) or visit http://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/ci/wcfraud.html.
For more information, contact DWCCommunications@tdi.texas.gov.