Anchorage doctor's license suspended
ANCHORAGE - The Alaska State Medical Board suspended the license of an Anchorage doctor after a state review said "irresponsible and erratic" practices led to the death of two patients.
The review was part of a petition issued by the state Division of Occupational Licensing asking to immediately stop Dr. Jay D. Van Houten from practicing medicine. The petition also cited a recent federal indictment that charged Van Houten and his wife, a registered nurse, with 83 counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit fraud.
On Wednesday, Van Houten, 45, and his wife, Ida, 44, pleaded not guilty to all counts in U.S. District Court. According to the July indictment, the couple defrauded private insurance companies by billing for services not rendered, double billing and billing acupuncture services as physical therapy.
Van Houten is a doctor of osteopathy who operated a private family practice in Anchorage.
The medical board suspended Van Houten's license Aug. 28. The restriction will hold until further review.
"There's nothing to support that he's an immediate danger to the public," said Paul Stockler, Van Houten's attorney. "They've known about these complaints since 1999, 2000. So why in September of 2002 is he suddenly a danger to the public?"
The state reviewed the cases of 13 patients. In addition to the two deaths, state officials said Van Houten mistreated or improperly evaluated others.
In 1999, a patient identified as D.A. died from an overdose of medication prescribed by Van Houten.
The report said Van Houten prescribed pain and anxiety medications for anxiety, depression and hip pain even after the patient's condition worsened, showing the medicine was ineffective.
"Van Houten's substandard care ... was a major factor in the death of D.A.," the report said.
Medication prescribed by Van Houten also led to the overdose death of a another patient, identified as R.D., in February 2000. Van Houten prescribed drugs such as OxyContin and Percocet to R.D. even though he knew R.D. had a history of addiction.