Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

6 hours ago

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

7 hours ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

7 hours ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

8 hours ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

11 hours ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

12 hours ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

12 hours ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

12 hours ago
Pain Clinic With Valley Locations Settles for $11.4M with State, Feds
By admin
Published 2 years ago on
July 12, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

California Attorney General Rob Bonta negotiated an $11.4 million settlement with a pain management clinic after allegations of Medi-Cal fraud.

Dr. Francis Lagattuta
Dr. Francis Lagattuta

Lags Medical Clinics — owned by Dr. Francis Lagattuta — operated 28 clinics in California and especially the Valley. There were three in Fresno.

Bonta, along with the U.S. Department of Justice, alleged that Lagattuta had been conducting unnecessary tests and procedures on thousands of patients, billing Medi-Cal and Medicare for the services.

“Thousands of Medi-Cal patients trusted Dr. Lagattuta to take away their pain,” Bonta said in a news release. “Instead he exploited their trust by carrying out arrays of unnecessary tests and billing for them over the objections of the doctors he employed.”

Unnecessary Procedures Conducted on Patients

Lagattuta had told employees at his clinics to conduct procedures on patients regardless of whether they needed them or not, the investigation found.

Procedures such as skin biopsies, spinal cord stimulation, and urine drug testing were done often without patient consent.

Medi-Cal and Medicare would then be billed for the services.

“Dr. Lagattuta and Lags Medical engaged in a brazen scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of millions of dollars by inflicting unnecessary and painful procedures on patients whom they were supposed to be relieving of pain,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert.

Patient Care Ended Abruptly

In May 2021, patients of Lags Medical Centers received text messages saying that the offices providing them with rehabilitation and care would be closing, according to Kaiser Health News.

KHN also reported the clinic served 20,000 patients throughout the Valley and Central Coast.

The California Department of Health Care Services soon after suspended Medi-Cal payments to Lags Medical Clinic because of an investigation into Dr. Francis Lagattuta’s practice.

Fresno County Lawsuit

A lawsuit filed in Fresno County alleged that a Lags Medical provider in Fresno punctured a patient’s lung during a botched injection for back pain. Lagattuta and the other named defendants have denied the incident was due to negligent treatment, KHN reported.

Former employees said they were given bonuses if they treated more than 32 patients in a day, a strategy Lagattuta confirmed in his deposition for the malpractice lawsuit.

“If they saw over, like, 32 patients, they would get, like, $10 a patient,” Lagattuta testified.

Settlement Terms

Of the $11.4 million, $8.5 million will go to the federal government. California will receive $2.7 million and Oregon will receive $130,000.

Lagattuta will be barred from receiving any Medi-Cal reimbursement or be allowed to bill Medi-Cal for five years.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

DON'T MISS

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

DON'T MISS

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

DON'T MISS

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

DON'T MISS

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

DON'T MISS

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

DON'T MISS

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

DON'T MISS

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

UP NEXT

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

UP NEXT

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

UP NEXT

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

UP NEXT

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

UP NEXT

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

UP NEXT

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

UP NEXT

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

UP NEXT

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

UP NEXT

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

4 hours ago

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

5 hours ago

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

5 hours ago

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

5 hours ago

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

5 hours ago

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

6 hours ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

6 hours ago

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

7 hours ago

Fresno Police Recover Some of the $40,000 in Fireworks Stolen From Bullard High Team

7 hours ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

7 hours ago

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

A two-vehicle collision sent a woman driving one of the vehicles to the hospital with a head injury Thursday afternoon in Fresno. Fresno pol...

3 hours ago

A crash causes a traffic jam in northwest Fresno on Thursday, July 3, 2025. (GV Wire/Paul Marshall)
3 hours ago

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned 52,593 acres with 5% containment, prompting evacuation orders in several San Luis Obispo County zones as of Thursday, July 3, 2025, afternoon. (CalFire)
3 hours ago

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

4 hours ago

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

4 hours ago

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

An ICE agent talks with migrants about their scheduled appointments with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Father’s Day, to learn about their immigration status, in Chicago, Illinois., U.S., June 15, 2025. (Reuters File)
5 hours ago

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

Boeing logo and miniature satellite model are seen in this illustration taken, March 10, 2025. (Reuters File)
5 hours ago

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

5 hours ago

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

Clovis Police are searching for Pathmani Goonawardena, 82, who went missing nearly three weeks ago and was last seen driving a white Volvo near Copper and Auberry, possibly en route to Coarsegold. (CHP)
5 hours ago

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend