An orthopedic surgeon from Canton, Mass., faces 11 counts of healthcare fraud after allegedly "upcoding" patient visits, the Justice Department said March 22.
Olarewaju Oladipo, MD, allegedly executed his scheme from January 2016-December 2019, the Justice Department said. He allegedly used billing codes for more complex services that were not provided.
Over four years, Dr. Oladipo allegedly billed for more than 60 patients daily and sometimes more than 90 in one day. That purported volume would mean each visit could be only about five minutes or less, but Dr. Oladipo allegedly used billing codes associated with 15- to 45-minute visits. He also allegedly prescribed opioids at a high rate to ensure high patient flow.
If he is found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison for each charge.