A Richmond acupuncturist, whose patient load was so high that it put the patients' safety at risk, charged the province $1.3 million for Medicare payments in one year.
And a health-ministry investigation is under way to determine whether Mubai Qiu - who has since opted out of the Medical Services Plan (MSP) - may be required to repay some of the money, a spokesman said.
In the past decade, nearly $8 million has been billed in error or overbilled to the MSP from more than 100 practitioners, the spokesman said. The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of B.C., the industry's self-regulatory watchdog, investigated Qiu after the health ministry contacted the college about his billings for acupuncture treatments, states a release by the college.
Between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2012, Qiu billed MSP for $1,280,088, health ministry records show.
The college said it took "extraordinary action" under the Health Professions Act after an inspector's report and announced an "extraordinary" disciplinary hearing.
Before the hearing late last year, Qiu agreed to limit patients to 30 a day and provide weekly reports to the college for verification.
And the college said it would conduct random and unannounced visits to ensure compliance. The college did not return a request for comment.
The person who answered the phone at Qiu's clinic said he did not speak much English and hung up the phone.
Qiu opted out of the MSP on April 1, 2012, and now bills his patients directly, said health ministry spokesman Stephen May.
"There is an ongoing investigation into Mr. Qiu's practices and billing and an outstanding case before the courts, so it would not be appropriate to speak to specifics at this time," he said in an emailed statement.
May also said the practitioner could be subject to a fine or having his licence suspended or revoked by his own college.
Since 2004-2005, 102 practitioners have been ordered to reimburse the MSP for $7.8 million in improper billings, said May. The ministry is reviewing 130 active files, May said.
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