Texas Doctor Convicted of Workers’ Comp Fraud, Drug Crimes

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A North Texas doctor will pay $376,368 in restitution after pleading guilty to mail fraud conspiracy in federal court, the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation reported.

Clinton Battle M.D. of Arlington pleaded guilty on July 22, 2021, to defrauding the federal workers’ compensation program and Texas workers’ compensation insurance carriers. Battle admitted to submitting fraudulent bills for physical therapy, office exams, and functional capacity evaluations for a period of five years starting in 2012.

During that time Battle mischaracterized services so he could bill at a higher rate. In several cases, Battle also billed for services that he claimed took longer than they actually did, were never conducted, or were conducted by unlicensed staff.

As a result of his guilty plea, Battle will be excluded from federal healthcare and workers’ compensation programs, which will eliminate his ability to be paid for services he provides or prescribes.

In 2017, the DWC decided Battle would no longer be allowed to treat patients in the state’s workers’ compensation system.

Earlier in July, a federal jury found Battle guilty of drug crimes including distribution of a controlled substance.

On Oct. 28, 2021, he will be sentenced on all counts related to the conviction and the plea agreement. Battle faces up to 15 years in prison.

The DWC Fraud Unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Postal Service, and the IRS conducted these investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Weybrecht and Jay Weimer were the prosecuting attorneys.

Source: TDI-DWC