A federal grand jury in Lafayette, Louisiana, has indicted Dr. Michael W. Dole, 59, of Alexandria, for allegedly defrauding Medicare of over $32.7 million through claims for medically unnecessary urine drug testing services.
Dole, who owned and operated a pain management practice with an in-house drug testing lab, is accused of submitting fraudulent claims from January 2010 through July 2023. He allegedly billed Medicare for definitive testing of over 22 classes of drugs in nearly all patient urine samples, despite lacking documentation or suspicion of drug use by the patients. Medicare reportedly reimbursed Dole more than $11.7 million, which he allegedly used for personal expenses.
Dole faces one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison for each count.
The case was announced by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana, and officials from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the FBI New Orleans Field Office.
The investigation is ongoing, and the case will be prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Samantha E. Usher and Kelly Z. Walters of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section.
