Author: WadeEmmert

Summary of article from D Magazine, by Will Maddox:

Drs. Desi and Deno Barroga have admitted to a healthcare fraud scheme involving false claims for steroid injections that were never provided, defrauding insurers including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Healthcare. The scheme involved monthly office visits for patients on addictive drugs, where they fraudulently claimed to perform costly treatments. Manipulated medical records and coerced patient statements were used to validate the fraudulent claims, leading to the doctors billing insurance for $45 million and receiving $9 million. Both doctors have a history of disciplinary actions from the Texas Medical Board related to improper prescribing and inadequate record-keeping. The brothers now face a maximum of 10 years in federal prison.

Summary of article from Policy & Medicine, by Thomas Sullivan:

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently ruled that for a defendant to be considered “willful” under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), they must be aware that their actions are somehow unlawful. This decision came from a qui tam case against McKesson Corp, which was accused of offering free access to business tools to oncology practices in return for using McKesson as their primary drug supplier. The court upheld the dismissal of the case, finding the evidence insufficient to prove that McKesson acted with wrongful intent. The court’s interpretation of “willful” under the AKS protects those who unintentionally engage in prohibited conduct. Despite this, the case was sent back for review of potential violations of state anti-kickback laws, which may have less stringent requirements.