BRIEF: State attorney general charges two clinic doctors with insurance fraud

Oct. 20--SCRANTON -- Two doctors who worked at walk-in clinics in Scranton had untrained staff members treat patients and write prescriptions for opioid dependence then submitted false claims to medical assistance and Medicare programs, as well as private insurance companies, showing that doctors performed the services, the state Attorney General's office said.

The doctors, Rajaa Nebbari, 44, and Chethan Byadgi, 52, were arraigned this morning by Magisterial District Judge Alyce Hailstone Farrell and released on $100,000 unsecured bail each.

They are charged with several counts of Medicaid fraud, theft by deception, insurance fraud and a charge for directing unqualified people to write prescriptions for Suboxone, a controlled substance used to treat opioid addiction, according to a criminal complaint.

The crimes occurred while the two worked at Advanced Urgent Care on Mulberry Street and Family Urgent Care on Pittston Avenue, investigators said.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Dec. 7.

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