Modesto doctors accused in major fraud case plead not guilty; patients react
She and other patients were put through the same physical therapies despite their different injuries, she said. "I did eventually go somewhere else and it was totally different and better therapy," said Ozimek, a former Gottschalks employee who suffered from tendinitis. She was once a workers compensation patient of Dr. William Pistel at Stanislaus Orthopaedic.
"Whatever they were doing was doing me no good, but workers comp was getting billed," Ozimek said.
The six local doctors charged in a
Four of the doctors --
More than two dozen physicians, pharmacists, business owners and a physician assistant across California are charged with taking part in an insurance fraud scheme masterminded by a Beverly Hills couple, Christopher and
According to the state Insurance Commissioner and the Orange County district attorney, the scheme involved recruiting doctors and pharmacists to prescribe unnecessary treatment for workers compensation insurance patients.
The criminal allegations against some well-known doctors in
Cohen, 57, is the son of the late
After the allegations were announced Thursday, plenty of local patients defended the physicians in comments on Facebook and remarks to
Stanislaus Orthopaedic clinic on Orangeburg continued to serve patients Friday. The physicians and administrative director have not responded to requests for comment on the allegations. There are no charges against other doctors and surgeons connected with that clinic.
Hockenson said a court order to suspend their practices would require clear and certain evidence they are an immediate danger to the public. The court order, called a "PC23," carries a heavy burden of proof.
The state medical board will let the criminal case take its course and then conduct its own investigation of the fraud allegations and take appropriate action with regard to the physicians' licenses, Hockenson said.
Pistel, an osteopathic physician, has a license through the
The Modesto doctors are accused of illegal oral and written agreements with the Kings to prescribe a compound cream that was not
A news release said the Kings purchased the creams from a
The Kings also are accused of a scam involving the purchase and repackaging of oral pain medication and sharing the profits with the physicians.
Authorities allege that Caton and Robson each received
An Orange County district attorney staff member said the six Modesto doctors received arraignment letters telling them to appear in court this week before the allegations were announced Thursday.
"This is really disturbing," said Ozimek, who had no personal knowledge of wrongdoing at the Modesto clinic, just suspicions. She said her doctor there "was arrogant and didn't want you to be challenging his orders. He didn't look you in the eye when you talked with him."
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