Fraudster Doctor Faces Life in Prison
Francisco Patino, a 66-year-old doctor from Wayne County, Michigan, has been convicted of masterminding a complex scheme to defraud Medicare and other health insurance programs by administering medically unnecessary spinal injections in exchange for prescriptions of high doses of opioids to patients.
Patino, who ran a medical clinic in Livonia, excessively prescribed highly addictive opioids to his patients, and in return, they received facet joint or nerve block injections, which are lucrative spinal injections. However, evidence presented at trial revealed that Patino injected patients without regard to medical necessity and would withhold their prescriptions for opioids if they refused to accept the injections.
Between January 2012 and July 2017, Patino billed Medicare for more facet joint or nerve block injections than any other provider in the country. In 2016 and 2017, he prescribed more 30-milligram Oxycodone pills than every other provider in the state of Michigan.
The evidence also showed that Patino developed illegal kickback relationships with at least one diagnostic laboratory, under which he was paid in exchange for referring his patients’ samples to that lab. The lab funneled money into bank accounts held by others, who then distributed the money to Patino or spent it on his behalf.
Patino used the funds from his various schemes to buy jewelry, cars, and vacations, and a significant portion of the funds were used to promote his specialized diet program and lifestyle and wellness book. He even paid Ultimate Fighting Championship and other mixed martial arts fighters to promote the Patino Diet.
Patino was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, two counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering. He faces a maximum total penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on January 20, 2022.
Related Federal Cases
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- Vitas Health Corporation, Kickback Scheme, Michigan 2023 · New Mexico
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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