Louisiana neurologist Anil Prasad, MD, was charged with conspiring to dispense controlled substances and commit healthcare fraud, according to the Department of Justice.
From 2016 to 2018, Dr. Prasad allegedly pre-signed prescriptions for controlled substances, including oxycodone, for patients he didn't personally examine.
The prescriptions Dr. Prasad signed without examining patients to determine medical necessity cost Medicaid about $1.1 million and cost Medicare nearly $594,000.
Dr. Prasad also allegedly pre-signed prescriptions for controlled substances while he was travelling abroad. Two nurse practitioners and the owner of the clinic where he worked are listed as co-conspirators in the indictment, but they're all unnamed.
Authorities said Dr. Prasad was aware that some patients paid for the unnecessary prescriptions using their Medicare Part D and Medicaid benefits.
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