Doc With ‘Outsized Personality’ Convicted in Opioids-for-Injections Scheme

A Michigan doctor was convicted last week for running a scheme in which he gave patients opioid prescriptions in exchange for performing or at least billing for unnecessary spinal injections, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Frank Patino, MD, who had a private practice in Livonia, Michigan, allegedly spent the money he culled from the $100 million scheme on jewelry, cars, and vacations — and a “sizable portion” went to promoting “The Patino Diet,” including having Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters on his payroll.

According to The Detroit News, Patino had an “outsized personality and appearance” and prior to his arrest was “frequently shirtless, posing next to bikini-clad women and flexing his muscles in social media posts and promotional photographs for his self-styled ‘Patino Diet.'”

But the news outlet reported that during a court hearing last month, the 66-year-old physician appeared “dramatically thin” and “elderly” after spending 3 years in jail awaiting trial.

DOJ alleged that Patino prescribed opioids excessively, writing scripts for more 30-mg oxycodone pills than any other healthcare provider in Michigan.

To get those scripts, patients had to receive — or they were billed as if they had received — facet joint or nerve block injections, which DOJ described as “lucrative spinal injections.”

“Although these spinal injections were purportedly intended to treat chronic pain, evidence at trial demonstrated that Patino injected patients without regard to medical necessity,” according to the DOJ release.

There was also evidence that if patients didn’t consent to the injections, Patino would withhold their opioid prescriptions, reported DOJ.

Prosecutors said that from January 2012 through July 2017, Patino billed Medicare for more of these injections than any other provider in the country.

Patino also allegedly got kickbacks from at least one diagnostic laboratory for sending patient samples their way, and the money from the lab was funneled into accounts held by others, who then gave Patino the money or spent it on his behalf.

Patino was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud, two counts of healthcare fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and pay and receive healthcare kickbacks, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 20, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

His Michigan license is listed as suspended.