US to extradite Filipino doctor accused of defrauding medical insurance

CARSON—A former Carson-based  Filipino doctor, accused of defrauding a California health care program of more than $3 million, is set to be extradited to the US to face charges, reports the Associated Press.

The US Government has filed extradition papers to the Philippine authorities for Dr. Eric Chan, also known as Eric Uy Garchitorena. National Bureau of Investigation officers arrested Chan inside a military camp in metropolitan Manila. Chan is a medical corp reservist of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the AP reports.

NBI official Claro de Castro Jr. said Chan fled the US to evade arrest and prosecution for cases including grand theft before the Los Angeles Superior Court.

He said Chan is alleged to have collected payments over $3 million from California’s Medi-Cal program by presenting false medical claims.

According to other reports from the Philippines, Chan (who operates a medical clinic in Carson) would hire doctors and use their provider number in order to bill Medi-Cal payments for non-existent services.

He is also alleged to have directed medical assistants to fabricate medical charts of patients.

It is believed that Chan has been on the run since 2000. Joseph Pimentel/AJPress