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Four Physicians Convicted of $150 Million Opioid Scheme

February 12, 2020

A federal jury in Michigan found four physicians guilty of a $150 million healthcare fraud that included the prescribing of more than 6.6 million doses of opioids between 2008 and 2016.

The conspirators were found guilty of forcing patients to receive unnecessary facet joint injections in exchange for oxycodone 30mg prescriptions — a dose only meant for terminally ill cancer patients.

As a result of the scheme, the physicians defrauded Medicare of more than $150 million by billing for the injections, unnecessary urinary drug screens, home health and other unneeded medical services.

The clinic was paid more for facet joint injections than any other medical clinic in the U.S., and the physicians were among the top prescribers of opioids in the state of Michigan. They are scheduled to be sentenced in July.

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