Former Coffeyville physician, Dr. Jerome E. Block announced on his Facebook page on October 13, 2015 that he would be taking a sabbatical from his practice from Integrated Health Center in Tulsa. That sabbatical turned into something more permanent on Thursday when Dr. Block took his own life. In his October 13th Facebook post, he said, “I have sacrificed much to be the doctor I am today”. He said it is with more than with a tinge of sadness that he was making the announcement. Dr. Block’s funeral is scheduled in Tulsa at 1 o’clock Monday afternoon.

In June of this year Dr. Block and his clinic agreed to pay $105,000 dollars in civil penalties to settle a lawsuit alleging false Medicare claims.

According to the U.S. Attorney office of Northern District of Oklahoma, a former employee of the clinic had filed a “Whistle Blower” complaint under the false claims Act stating a violation of regulations by permitting unlicensed personnel to provide medical services to patients, among other violations.

Dr. Block closed his Coffeyville practice and moved to Tulsa in 2002.  Dr. Block’s program “All Things Medical” was heard weekly on KWON for five years.