Records introduced in the trial that began this week show Dr. Ben Echols approved home health care services for 352 patients and never saw 200 of them before he approved the services. At least one patient received benefits for 2 1/2 years before he was seen by a doctor.
Echols' signature was on hundreds of forms submitted to home health care companies who then requested Medicare reimbursement.
The Houston Chronicle reports Echols' lawyer acknowledges the physician isn't the best manager in the world but has violated no rules or laws and is a good doctor.
