Federal agents raided several dermatology centers across north Georgia and Tennessee on Wednesday morning, cutting into patient schedules and leaving at least one office closed for the day. In Blue Ridge, patients who arrived expecting routine visits instead learned their appointments were canceled and staff were unavailable. Authorities have not yet released details on the scope of the operation.
According to WSB‑TV, Channel 2 Action News started getting calls Wednesday about agents at an office on Riverstone Vista off Appalachian Highway in Blue Ridge. Workers told the station that federal officials showed up around 7:30 a.m. and removed computers and documents from the Skin Cancer and Cosmetic Dermatology Center there. The station reported that multiple patients walked out stunned after learning their same-day visits were suddenly off the books.
Blue Ridge Office Among Locations
The practice operates as Skin Cancer & Cosmetic Dermatology Center and lists a Blue Ridge office at 101 Riverstone Vista, Suite 215, according to Skin Cancer & Cosmetic Dermatology Center. The site notes an electronic medical record upgrade and a temporary pause in online scheduling that could affect appointments. The Blue Ridge location page lists Dr. John Chung among the providers working out of that office.
Owner Faced Prior Federal Scrutiny
Dr. John Y. Chung, owner of Skin Cancer & Cosmetic Dermatology Center, previously agreed in July 2023 to a $6.6 million settlement to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations related to billing for Mohs surgeries and other procedures, according to a U.S. Department of Justice release. The DOJ said the claims covered conduct from 2010 through 2020 and that the practice entered into an Integrity Agreement with HHS‑OIG as part of the settlement. The announcement also noted that the probe began with a whistleblower lawsuit and involved multiple federal and state agencies.
Why Authorities Investigate Dermatology Practices
Recent legal reviews and government actions show federal enforcement in dermatology often zeroes in on coding, upcoding, supervision requirements and billing for treatments that may not be medically necessary. A healthcare-fraud review highlighted by Bass, Berry & Sims, together with multiple Justice Department announcements, outlines a series of civil settlements in which billing and supervision were central issues. Those patterns have made dermatology groups a recurring focus for whistleblowers and federal investigators.
How Patients Were Affected
The practice’s website lists phone numbers for its clinics and asks patients to call before coming in. The Blue Ridge page shows a local number and explains that online scheduling is temporarily unavailable because of a records upgrade, according to Skin Cancer & Cosmetic Dermatology Center. If you had an appointment at a clinic that may be affected, contact your office directly for rescheduling information or instructions about urgent skin-cancer follow-ups.
What To Expect Next
As reported by WSB‑TV, the station said it planned a live segment later Wednesday focusing on the owner’s previous dealings with federal investigators. Federal prosecutors typically decline to discuss ongoing investigations, and agencies usually release specifics only when charges or related filings become public.
The story is still developing. We will update this article if federal agencies or the practice issue formal statements. Patients affected by Wednesday’s closures should hold on to appointment confirmations and billing records until the situation becomes clearer.
