BOSTON – A Canton orthopedic surgeon has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for his role in a health care fraud scheme.
Dr. Olarewaju James Oladipo, 57, of Canton, was indicted on 11 counts of health care fraud. Oladipo was arrested this morning and will make his initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler today at 2 p.m. in federal court in Boston.
According to the indictment, from approximately January 2016 through December 2019, Oladipo devised and executed a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs by falsely billing for patient visits. Specifically, it is alleged that Oladipo used billing codes for more complex—and thus more expensive—services that were not provided (a practice that is sometimes referred to as “upcoding”). Oladipo allegedly falsified medical records of patient visits to reflect examinations and services that were not performed. During the four-year period, it is alleged that Oladipo frequently billed for more than 60 patients per day and sometimes more than 90 patients per day. The result was that many, if not most, of Oladipo’s patient visits on such days could have only lasted five minutes or less. However, Oladipo allegedly used billing codes that typically corresponded to visits of 15, 25, 30, or even 45 minutes. It is further alleged that Oladipo ensured this high flow of patients to his practice by prescribing powerful, highly addictive opioids at a rate that made him one of the top prescribers of such drugs in Massachusetts.
Members of the public who believe they may be a victim of this crime should contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
The charge of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the National Insurance Crime Bureau; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan D. Panich and William B. Brady are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
