A Chattanooga pediatrician has been ordered to pay the State of Tennessee nearly $126,000.

The Office of the Attorney General said Dr. Ricardo Causo stands accused of TennCare fraud. The state said, under the Tennessee Medicaid False Claims Act, the doctor “improperly submitted claims to the TennCare program for prolonged services that he did not render.” Subsequently, Causo received money for services he did not perform.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III and Causo reached a settlement under which Causo will repay $125,897.65.

“TennCare funds are not unlimited,” Slatery said. “This office will continue to fight for money wasted on fraudulent claims – money that should be going to treat a vulnerable population.”