Pennsylvania M.D. Used Addiction Clinics as Front for Opioid Scheme

Case: A 57-year-old doctor pleaded guilty to running an elaborate opioid distribution and insurance fraud scheme out of the Liberation Way addiction treatment center for whom he served as medical director and sole physician. Federal prosecutors claimed the doctor signed blank test order forms, prescribed drugs and created medical treatment plans for patients without actually seeing them. “He never even stepped foot into one of the three treatment centers that billed in his name,” according to the DOJ press release. Significance: Remember the name Liberation Way because you’ll probably be hearing a lot more of it in the months to come. Last March, criminal charges were filed against nine businesses and 11 individuals in connection with the scheme. All of the elements are there—exploitation of opioid addicts, massive overbillings and kickbacks involving thousands of medically unnecessary urine tests which were sent to Florida-based labs for analysis. So, stay tuned.