Dr. Kamal Kabakibou and his medical practice, known as The Center for Pain Management, have agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle allegations of billing for unnecessary testing and pre-signing opioid prescriptions while Dr. Kabakibou was out of the country. The settlement resolves claims under the False Claims Act and the Controlled Substances Act.
In addition to the financial settlement, Dr. Kabakibou and his practice will provide regular monitoring reports to the Drug Enforcement Administration over the next five years. They have also entered into a three-year integrity agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), which includes annual claims reviews by an independent organization.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr., emphasized that "dangerous opioids be properly dispensed" and that federal healthcare funds be used wisely. He assured continued efforts to hold accountable those engaging in misconduct.
Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon from HHS-OIG highlighted the responsibility of healthcare professionals in accurate billing and responsible prescription practices, committing to holding accountable those exploiting federal programs.
Mathew Broadhurst from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General stated that false claims for unnecessary services compromise patient safety, pledging ongoing collaboration with law enforcement partners to protect worker compensation programs' integrity.
Jason Sargenski from the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General warned against exploiting TRICARE, stressing aggressive investigations into healthcare fraud affecting military personnel.
DEA Atlanta Division's Acting Special Agent Jae Chung criticized Dr. Kabakibou for not fulfilling his duty regarding controlled substance prescriptions, labeling him as a "dangerous drug trafficker."
FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent Sean Burke pointed out that Medicare beneficiaries should trust their treatment is based on medical advice rather than financial motives, affirming vigorous government action against system exploitation.
The government alleged that Dr. Kabakibou conducted unnecessary tests at his clinics in Atlanta and Blue Ridge, Georgia, submitting claims for these tests to federal health insurance programs such as Medicare and TRICARE. It was also alleged that he pre-signed prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances like opioids when traveling abroad, leaving them for nurse practitioners who were not authorized to dispense such medications unsupervised.
The investigation involved several agencies including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, HHS-OIG, Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, FBI, DEA, and U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony DeCinque reached the civil settlement with former Assistant U.S. Attorney David O’Neal contributing to the investigation process.
The settlement does not imply any determination of liability as it addresses allegations only.
For further information contact: USAGAN.PressEmail@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.