California doctor charged in $150 million insurance scam

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By BRIAN MELLEY

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An orthopedic surgeon was charged as the ringleader in one of the state's biggest health fraud schemes, which included unnecessary operations by an untrained assistant that scarred patients forever, according to indictments unsealed Tuesday.

Dr. Munir Uwaydah and 14 associates, including another doctor and a lawyer, bilked insurance companies out of $150 million in the scheme, Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey said.

Nearly two dozen patients were told Uwaydah would perform surgery on them, only to have his physician's assistant — who had not attended medical school — operate once they were under anesthesia, according to the indictment. Uwaydah wasn't even present for the surgeries.

"All 21 patients sustained lasting scars and many required additional surgeries and suffered physical and psychological trauma as a result of their experience in Uwaydah's clinics," prosecutors said in a news release.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/57f93c7357304685a37af8e5679e1ea4/california-doctor-charged-150-million-insurance-scam

[pnwmom]

1. Medicare for all wouldn't solve this problem, alas. Crooked doctors would still look for payoffs

from the government.

[Marie Marie]

2. No, but lengthy jail sentences might deter some of them.

[pnwmom]

3. That's the solution. n/t

[840high]

4. yep

[Stuart G]

5. Thanks for posting..I hope the con man is convicted. Incredible story..nt

[appalachiablue]

6. Welcome to the deregulated, anti-govt. privatized for profit brand of 'medicine', US style.

Anything for a buck in Greed USA.

[Lychee2]

7. There is a very fine line between "cutting big government" and legalizing crime.

Wall Street is a great example. Medical fraud is another.

[appalachiablue]

8. Corrupt and scary as h*ll what this country has devolved to over 35 years. Unrecognizable.

[valerief]

10. ^^^THIS^^^

[vkkv]

9. No Bail for him or his associates!

We need a prison island for people like this, the island next to the island for murderers, rapists, gang members and crooked Republicans.