A physician in Alabama was charged with healthcare fraud and the unlawful distribution of controlled substances as part of a massive government takedown, according to the Department of Justice.
The key details to know:
1. Along with the physician, the owners and operators of a dispensary and medical clinic were charged. The DOJ did not name any of the individuals charged in its statement.
2. The physician allegedly prescribed opioids in high doses and in dangerous combinations, even if the physician knew the patients had failed drug screens or were addicts.
3. The physician also allegedly charged patients a "concierge fee" of $50 per visit, or $600 per year, and preferred cash payments.
4. The physician was charged as part of a larger investigation that included 60 individuals, including 53 medical providers.