A Wayne County, Mich.-based physician was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for distributing more than 6.6 million doses of medically unnecessary opioids, NBC affiliate WILX reported Jan. 30.  ...30 January 2023

Raleigh, N.C.-based ENT Anita Louise Jackson, MD, was found guilty of adulterating medical devices for use on patients, among other charges, and must pay $4.79 million, the U.S. District Attorney's Office ...30 January 2023

Former Naples, Fla.-based physician Omar Saleh has pleaded guilty in a $2.6 million fraud scheme, the Naples Daily News reported Jan. 27.  Beginning in April 2020, Dr. Saleh participated in a scheme ...30 January 2023

Here are six legal battles involving physicians that Becker's has reported on since Jan. 5: 1. James Grierson, MD, of Marysville, Wash., was sued by a former patient for sexual misconduct. 2. Willarda ...23 January 2023

Francis Joseph, MD, has been convicted of misappropriating $250,000 in government COVID-19 relief funds, the Justice Department reported Jan. 17.  Dr. Joseph, 57, of Highlands Ranch, Colo., used the ...17 January 2023

Former physician Michael Ligotti was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to surrender his medical license for a $746 million scheme involving substance abuse treatment centers, the U.S. Justice ...10 January 2023

Here are three physician fraud cases so far this year: 1. Great Neck, N.Y.-based gastroenterologist Morris Barnard, MD, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and must pay $1.4 million for a Medicare ...09 January 2023

From false Medicare claims to improper and reckless medical billing, here are 14 major False Claims Act settlements in 2022 and the first week of 2023.   1. In April, a physician paid $40,800 to resolve ...09 January 2023

Kishor Vora, MD, owner of Owensboro (Ky.) Heart and Vascular and Owensboro Medical Practice, has paid $931,500 to settle a Medicare fraud case with the U.S. Justice Department for referring patients for ...05 January 2023

Alfonso Luevano, MD, a primary care physician in Carrizo Springs, Texas, along with three members of his clinical staff and his office manager, were sentenced for unlawful distribution of controlled substances ...22 December 2022

...  December 29, 2020 Hospital staff upset over vaccine distribution | COVID-19 immunity may last 8 months | 4 CMOs' top priority for 2021 | IU Health CEO demands external review after Black physician ...22 December 2022

Brookline, Mass.-based sleep medicine physician Pankaj Merchia, MD, was indicted for his alleged role in a healthcare fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Dec. 20.  According to the indictment, ...21 December 2022

Here are five physician fraud cases that Becker's has reported on since Dec. 5:  1. Orthopedic surgeon Andrew Dowd, MD, and lawyer George Constantine were convicted of defrauding businesses and insurance ...21 December 2022

Orthopedic surgeon Andrew Dowd, MD, and lawyer George Constantine have been convicted of defrauding businesses and insurance companies in a $31 million trip-and-fall fraud scheme, the U.S. Justice Department ...19 December 2022

... to medical necessity, and Dr. Toh was not the treating physician of the patients.   His co-conspirators include telemedicine company Advanced Tele-Genetic Counseling, whose owner Elizabeth Turner pleaded ...15 December 2022

Former CEO and owner of Sarasota (Fla.) Pain Associates Steven Chun, MD, has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for his role in a $4.5 million fentanyl kickback scheme, the Justice ...07 December 2022

Monique Brotman, DO, based in Oak Park, Ill., has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor Medicaid fraud, the Wednesday Journal reported Dec. 6.  Dr. Brotman was charged for billing nearly $59,000 to Medicaid ...06 December 2022

Joplin, Mo.-based pain management physician Heather Stelling, MD, has pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud and must pay $127,750 in restitution, KOAM News reported Dec. 2.  Dr. Stelling, who owned and ...05 December 2022

Here are 13 physician kickback suits Becker's reported in 2022 that totaled more than $332 million in either restitution or cost of the fraud scheme: 1. Alexandria, Va.-based orthopedic surgeon Thomas ...22 November 2022

Tampa, Fla.-based physician Sean Patrick O'Rourke, MD, has pleaded guilty to soliciting and receiving kickbacks and bribes, the U.S. Justice Department said Nov. 18.  According to court documents, in ...18 November 2022