Dentist In South Korea To Pay $100,000 To Resolve Civil Liability For Violations Of The False Claims Act

HARRISBURG, PA -The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dr. Gina Sohn, a dentist practicing in South Korea, has agreed to pay the United States $100,000 to resolve civil liability for alleged violations of the False Claims Act.

According to Acting United States Attorney, Bruce D. Brandler, Dr. Sohn is a licensed dentist who practices in South Korea, serving U.S. military service members and their families. Between January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2021, Dr. Sohn allegedly submitted false or fraudulent claims for payment to the TRICARE Program for services not rendered to her patients, specifically for fillings not provided to patients. TRICARE is the healthcare program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families around the world. The amount of the settlement represents the reimbursements received for the billings for unrendered services and penalties.

"Healthcare providers must be held accountable when they falsely represent the services they are providing in order to increase their profits," said Acting U.S. Attorney Brandler. "Health care fraud is a high priority of the Department of Justice and overpayments by the government issued through programs like TRICARE contribute to the ever escalating costs of health care in the United States."

"The special agents of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) are dedicated to ensuring that our military members and their dependents receive the high quality care that the TRICARE program provides for" said Stanley A. Newell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DCIS Transnational Operations Field Office. "This settlement demonstrates that no matter where they are on the globe, those who defraud the American military and taxpayers will be brought to justice."

This Settlement Agreement is neither an admission of liability by Dr. Sohn nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.

This matter was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and was handled by Assistant United States Attorney, Tamara J. Haken and the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit within the U.S. Attorney's Office.

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