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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The person generally known as “Hilo’s welfare physician” has received one other authorized battle with the state.
The Intermediate Courtroom of Appeals on Friday put aside a decrease courtroom ruling ordering Dr. Frederick Nitta to return $205,000 in Medicaid reimbursements paid to his main care observe.
“So far as vindication, sure — however not a lot as a result of this can be a battle that goes on till after I’m useless,” mentioned Nitta of his lengthy working authorized battles with the state.
Nitta is an authorized obstetrician and gynecologist however due to the shortages of docs on the Large Island he additionally gives main care providers for anybody who walks in, together with sufferers affected by the flu, most cancers and even coronary heart assaults.
About 90 % of his sufferers are on Medicaid, Medicare or MedQuest.
However the Division of Human Providers, which oversees the Medicaid program, argued that as a result of Nitta wasn’t licensed as a main care doctor of their system he wasn’t entitled to obtain enhanced Medicaid funds for these providers. It ordered him to pay again $205,000.
The ICA nevertheless turned to a latest latest federal appeals courtroom ruling saying he’s entitled to the funds.
The ruling comes after the DHS accused Nitta of fraud in 2014, claiming he over billed the Medicaid program by greater than 1,000,000 {dollars}.
However a state choose dismissed the allegations, blaming a mistake involving fallacious billing codes.
“The MedQuest folks have a vendetta to place him out of enterprise which is absolutely loopy,” mentioned his lawyer Eric Seitz, who mentioned his shopper has wracked up greater than $250,000 in authorized charges battling the state.
“There are usually not sufficient docs to offer providers so if somebody is available in pregnant to see Dr. Nitta and he takes care of all of their medical want underneath laws, he’s entitled to obtain the funds.”
The DHS didn’t reply to a request for remark however Nitta believes the harassment received’t finish right here.
“I perceive what’s occurring. I’m vocal. I all the time have, was, will likely be. I’m going to be vocal to combat for what I consider in is correct,” mentioned Nitta.
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