Six physicians were allegedly involved in a $500 million scheme to distribute medically unnecessary drugs, Fox 2 reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. Rajendra Bothra, MD, who operated The Pain Center in Warren, Mich., and the Interventional Pain Center in Eastpointe, Mich., was the alleged mastermind behind the scheme. He is charged with conspiracy, fraud and other crimes.
2. The six physicians are accused of fraudulently billing Medicare and illegally prescribing millions of opioid drugs.
3. Prosecutors said the physicians prescribed opioids to boost volume and forced patients to undergo other unnecessary treatments.
4. The providers allegedly billed insurers nearly $500 million, getting the bulk from Medicare and Medicaid.
5. Dr. Bothra was jailed and scheduled to attend a detention hearing Dec. 7.