A Federal Way doctor settled with the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations that he billed government health programs “useless” urine drug tests, according to the Department of Justice.

Dr. Vuthy Leng, a 48-year-old general practice doctor, owns and operates the Family Medicine Clinic of Federal Way. The settlement agreement states Leng will pay the state and federal health programs $228,000 to resolve allegations that he billed government health programs for urine drug test that were never tested or tested too late to be considered, according to the DOJ.

Leng’s Federal Way clinic had a certified lab with the ability to perform urine drug tests in order to screen patients for appropriate prescribing of medications, including substance use disorder treatment.

Between Jan. 1, 2019 and July 30, 2019, Leng allegedly submitted bills to Medicare and Medicaid for urine drug tests.

“In fact, for long periods during this timeframe, the medical equipment for testing urine was broken, the samples were simply frozen for testing at a later date. Some were never tested at all,” according to the DOJ news release.

Leng is not admitting to the allegations of the settlement, however he will pay $76,000 in restitution to the government medical programs, the DOJ stated. The government can also seek treble damages, which would require Leng to pay $152,000, split between the state and federal programs, over the next 12 months.

The settlement also requires each party to pay their own legal fees.

Under the terms of the settlement each party will pay their own legal fees.

The Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Washington State Health Care Authority and Washington Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Division conducted the investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Nickolas Bohl negotiated the settlement for the U.S. Department of Justice.