By Madina Toure
FLUSHING — A Flushing doctor is facing charges of defrauding six insurance companies out of more than $25,000 by billing them for medical services that he never provided, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said last week.
Dr. Stanley Sangwook-Kim, 41, of Manhasset, L.I., who has a medical practice at 33-34 Parsons Blvd., and is the director of the surgical residency program at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, was arraigned Nov. 19 before Queens Criminal Court Judge Michelle Armstrong.
He is facing charges related to insurance fraud, grand larceny, petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, falsifying business records and scheme to defraud, the DA said. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.
“To a dishonest healthcare provider, a patient’s medical data is like having access to their credit card — and can be more valuable as most people scrutinize their credit card statements much more closely than they do explanation of benefits printouts,” Brown said in a statement.
“Today’s criminal charges send a clear message to those who attempt to fleece the system for their own personal gain that law enforcement’s fight against insurance fraud is ongoing and that those who cheat will be sought out and prosecuted,” he continued.
Kim is accused of submitting more than $63,000 in fraudulent claims to six health insurance carriers — Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Affinity Health Plan, Optum Health
Care (United Healthcare) and Health Plus (Amerigroup) — for medical treatment he allegedly provided to 13 patients between May 2012 and September 2013, Brown said. He did not provide services during that time period, the DA contended.
Kim was released on his own recognizance.
His next court date is Dec. 10. St. John’s Episcopal Hospital started its internal investigation, according to Thomas Thompson, assistant to the chief executive officer.
