LAFAYETTE, La.
— Lafaye Thompson, who is a Louisiana physician and has written more than $1 million in Medicare claims for his wife, is paying a $3,000 fine and is working with a private attorney to resolve the matter, according to the state health department.
In January, Lafayette, a 56-year-old Lousiana resident, wrote his wife a check for $1,823 for her care of her 6-year old son and his younger brother.
He said he didn’t know about the payment until after she died.
In his check, Thompson said the $1-million payment came because his wife had been diagnosed with cancer and she had not received chemotherapy or radiation.
His wife died in August.
“She was a very caring, wonderful woman and loved her children,” Lafayne said.
“She took care of them as best she could, and she just did not have the money to get chemotherapy or other treatments.”
Lafaye said his wife died at home.
He filed a federal lawsuit last month alleging that the government was liable for the $3 million payment.
The lawsuit is now in federal court.
Thompson, a former medical director for the Louisiana Department of Health, could not be reached for comment.