A dozen doctors are among 16 people in Michigan and Ohio sentenced to prison for a health care fraud that includes distribution of 6.6 million opioid doses and $250 million in false billing.
Amongst the 16 doctors, eight are prominent Pakistani doctors who are well-known and quite active in the Pakistani community. Networks of different pain clinics participated in the scheme from 2007 to 2018 during which doctors refused to provide patients with opioids unless they went for expensive and often unnecessary painful back injections, observed the Justice Department on Wednesday.
Physicians and doctors are accused of exploiting patients suffering from addictions and the illegal distribution of over 6.6 million doses of medically unnecessary opioids. Five physicians were convicted in two separate trials while 18 others defendants pleaded guilty. Seven defendants await sentencing.
Doctors violating their oaths
“It is unconscionable that doctors and health care professionals would violate their oath to do no harm and exploit vulnerable patients struggling with addiction,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
“These are not just crimes of greed, these are crimes that make this country’s opioid crisis even worse – and that is why the department will continue to relentlessly pursue these cases.”
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“Patients look to physicians and medical professionals for their expertise and knowledge, trusting that they will do what is best to take care of them,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “In this circumstance, these medical professionals provided prescription drugs to those with no medical need. It is unacceptable that in this nation’s current opioid crisis, physicians and medical professionals are exploiting the well-being of their patients for profit. Thanks to the diligent work of the FBI and our law enforcement partners, we can navigate the important sphere of healthcare fraud and continue our mission of bringing those who operate these criminal schemes to justice.”
“Evidence further established that the defendant physicians repeatedly performed these unnecessary injections on patients over several years,” the Justice Department said in a release.
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Justice Department revealed that doctors spent the money on private jet flights, courtside tickets, and luxury cars.