Lawsuit alleges Medicare fraud

The El Paso Times needs to print an apology. This was an allegation not a fact! Dr. Chavez is innocent and this lawsuit has cost precious time and money that should be invested in improving patient quality of life.

Dr. Chavez is a local hero to many of us who have had a transplant, need a transplant or suffer through dialysis. He is kind and would never hurt his patients in any way. I owe him my life.

Get the facts straight. This article is a lie. The only fraud here is someone trying to make a lot of money off of an innocent man.

The story above is disgusting. Dr Chavez happens to be a personal family friend. He is an outstanding individual with high moral standards and values. I have personally witnessed him miss many family dinners and events to tend to his patients. The way the article is written makes it sound like Dr Chavez was never around for his patients and he let some random people do all the work. Let me ask you this? How many times have you gone to the dentist and the dentist cleaned your teeth? I can't recall the last time that even happened. Usually the dentist checks the work of the hygenist and I go on my way. Do you think dr chavez or any dr for that matter has the time to sit with the patient during their dialysis? No. They don't.

I am guilty of reading stuff and jumping to conclusions but now this is personal and dr chavez deserves a fair trial to prove his innocence.

The truth will prevail at trial. But judging by my personal knowledge of the character and integrity of Dr. Alfonso Chavez and the company Fresenius Medical Care and their employees (Voted one of Ethisphere's Most Ethical Companies-2008), and personally knowing the person making these claims (R. Gonzalez), I am confident that the claims she is making are totally bogus. She wants to pad her own pocketbook and she is the type of person that doesn't care who she hurts on the way. She should be ashamed of herself.

This article just goes to show how low the state of journalism has sunk. It is no wonder that newspapers are going the way of the dinosaur. If this is the case, I have no problems seeing the El Paso Time going extinct. As one reader has noted, billing for dialysis treatments are not done at the clinic level so Medicare does not reimburse individual clinics or clinic managers. So where is the motive? Also, physicians do not need to be present for patients to receive dialysis treatments. They are done under the supervision of Patient Care Technicians and Nurses. Of course, it is not in the interest of the El Paso Times to print articles that are well researched and present both sides of the story. They do just fine printing the stuff that incites biased and narrow minded thinking. And it doesn't take much to do that. Just ask that guy from Philadelphia.

We just need to wait and get the facts.

Years ago, my mother had a super great doctor, everyone loved him because he was good, kind and would give people a break on payments or free.

He was caught in a drug selling ring.

So let's wait for an investigation and a trial. He is innocent until proven guilty.

Meritz' report wad SO onesided that in your forum
the doctor has already been found guilty,convicted, jailed and the key thrown away!!
What happenend to "innocent until proven guilty???"
I was present at Judge Phil Martinez' court for the summary statement and the FBI isn't even represented in this suit. How come Meritz didn't mention that? He was obviously called by Stanton and interviewd only him. By making a HUGE mistake in the name of the accused you can tell he's not a very credible reporter. Will the Times now be dealing with a suit from Alfredo? I'd like to know more about Elizabeth also.

Media wrote:

I find this story to be completely one sided. It has pretty much already convicted Dr Chavez when the judge has not even ruled. Id like to wait for the second part of this story that talks about how there was to no real proof and that Mrs. Gonzales was just trying to make some money as a whistle blower. It’s amazing how the media can affect people’s opinion by writing the story just the right way. By the look of the responses it seems to be working well. I would like to see the same writer write the conclusion of this story that ended up having an amazing twist in the opposite direction. That would be amazing wouldn’t it?

I agree. It used to be that people were assumed innocent until proven guilty. Now people are assumed guilty and have to try to prove their innocence. I know Doctor Chavez. I would trust him with my life and my wallet.

Sinaloa wrote:

Throw these ppl behind bars and throw the keys away! To think of all the patients that they may have harmed. Dialysis is no joke! Handled improperly can cause death. I have to question how many patients have had problems stemming from being treated at this facility? Put these ppl away! No slaps on the
hands for first time offenses!

can you imagine SINALOA being selected for jury duty????!!!
God help us .

IGF wrote:

Meritz' report wad SO onesided that in your forum
the doctor has already been found guilty,convicted, jailed and the key thrown away!!
What happenend to "innocent until proven guilty???"
I was present at Judge Phil Martinez' court for the summary statement and the FBI isn't even represented in this suit. How come Meritz didn't mention that? He was obviously called by Stanton and interviewd only him. By making a HUGE mistake in the name of the accused you can tell he's not a very credible reporter. Will the Times now be dealing with a suit from Alfredo? I'd like to know more about Elizabeth also.

The gal's name is Rebecca. What is her background and her area of expertise? How long had she been at Fresenius ?

Dario Rivas wrote:

I am ready to initiate a "probe" on you sir!

a very good example of an ignorant person, maybe you like probing men? you are an idiot

I find it interesting that the people defending Chavez are talking about him as a person (good man, kind doctor, etc), which would lead me to believe they are his friends and family. Of course I can understand their defense- He's a friend, they don't want to see him in prison. However, we aren't talking about how good of a man Chavez may or may not be. From the Sounds of it, He STOLE from the government. And THAT is what needs to be Addressed. Of course, fraudulent DO documents tell all, no matter how smart or "nice" the person. So, I imagine the Judge will see the facts and rule appropriately.

El Paso always has corruption... this is just another example of a border town's crappy politics and rich men trying to take advantage of the poor.

IGF wrote:

Meritz' report wad SO onesided that in your forum
the doctor has already been found guilty,convicted, jailed and the key thrown away!!
What happenend to "innocent until proven guilty???"
I was present at Judge Phil Martinez' court for the summary statement and the FBI isn't even represented in this suit. How come Meritz didn't mention that? He was obviously called by Stanton and interviewd only him. By making a HUGE mistake in the name of the accused you can tell he's not a very credible reporter. Will the Times now be dealing with a suit from Alfredo? I'd like to know more about Elizabeth also.

If the FBI has nothing to do with it, why did the reporter mention them at all? They are obviously involved, and have a big part in investigations of defrauding the government.

Observer- yes we are his friends and family and yea from the way the article is written and presented it does look like he stole from the government. What we are saying is that that is not the case. If he wasn't confident that he hadn't done anything wrong he would have settled and this nightmare would have gone away. Instead dr Chavez chose to fight. He felt confident that he had enough evidence to prove he had done nothing wrong

Biased reporting is no substitute for news. I prresume the reporter will be publicly chastised to restore the integrity of the El Paso Times.

If you would take the time to read one of Dr. Chavez's books you would understand the type of person that he is. He had more compassion than anyone I know - working with him he treats even the lowest paid workers with respect.

The El Paso Times does not report news they convict and try to destroy a person without any facts behind it. Their paper is not worth the ink that it is printed on.

And how about telling the story of the person that has accused him - she has left out the facts of how kind he was to her and helped her out in the past along with all of his staff. Lets go into her past history and show her actual credibility. Level the playing field if you will.

What happened to Freedom of Speech? Is the El Paso Times denying me the First Amendment to the United States Constitution? If I recall my history, the First Amendment was written because America’s citizens demanded a guarantee of their basic freedoms, which are freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition.

The Times can write any article they so please, of course written with the protection of “freedom of the press,” even though it’s a one sided one, with no regard as to whether a person is guilty of the crime he is being charged with, or how it can hurt a person reputation and business.

By now, you must know that I am talking about the article on Medicare Fraud allegedly committed by Dr. Alfonso Chavez. I have written two comments to this story, and I have yet to see them posted. The first one I sent in without checking if it was posted, and the second one I did get the confirmation that it was posted, but by the next day it had been deleted. It seems as if you are deliberately taking my freedom of speech away.

My comments were stating the facts that your paper allowed a reporter to write a story in which he is just reporting the facts that Rebecca Gonzales wanted him to hear. Did she tell him that she is suing the Dr. and the clinics for more than $300,000,000.00, yes $300 million. It clearly shows that Rebecca is just in for the money. What harm was done to her? She just got fired. People get fired every day.

I am also a friend of Dr. Chavez, and who knows him better than his friends. Alfonso is the most caring, honest, compassionate individual you could ever meet. He sees his patients as he would his own family. All of patients get his cell number so they can call him day or night if they have any questions or problems. I know for fact that there are many of his patients that he doesn’t charge if they can’t pay

Well now that I gave my opinion of Dr. Chavez, let’s get back to the freedom of speech. Will I be denied again or should this letter be sent to all of the TV, radio, and other papers in the area..

Fraud is a way of life for doctors... they see it as an entitlement to wealth.. it's just being "American" ... Chavez has quite a following.. i don't know him, but as a doctor and filing Medicare claims makes him s prime suspect. But lets focus on the system.. and the "sons of Bushes" in Congress that are about to pass a health bill that will further make Medicare fraud standardized practice as doctors do not see themselves primarily as "healers" they see them selves as "entrepreneurs" and are thus entitles them to get all they can any way they can. Even the DA that prosecutes wears the same cloth. The "sin" in America is not stealing (it's what we do best.. just ask Native Americans) it's getting caught and once caught, the thief is driven out of the "tribe" .. sort of like a whistler blower bringing closer scrutiny on the rest. Dr Chavez is guilty of just getting caught doing what they all do.. getting all they can. It's fundamentally American to do that... after all, we are John Calvin's "Chosen" and thus "entitled."