ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Doctors in Dallas Pulled off Healthcare Fraud by Submitting Fake Claims for Injections; Here's How

Barroga Brothers from Dallas will Face Substantial Prison Sentences If Convicted in Healthcare Fraud Case
PUBLISHED DEC 17, 2023
Image Source: Photo by Edward Jenner | Pexels
Image Source: Photo by Edward Jenner | Pexels

Access to quality healthcare, which is also affordable, is considered one of the basic rights of human beings, but with a lot of money to be made, corruption and neglect often enter the picture, making way for scams. In the past few decades, malpractices in healthcare and fiascos such as the opioid epidemic have roched the United States. In a recent legal development, two doctors from North Texas, Desi Barroga and Deno Barroga, find themselves facing charges related to healthcare fraud. The allegations suggest that they received a substantial sum of around $12 million for services deemed fraudulent. They are accused of exploiting health insurance, which enables ordinary citizens to access medication without shelling out huge sums, for their own benefit.

Last week, the arrests of Doctors Desi Barroga and Deno Barroga brought attention to their involvement in a multi-million dollar scheme built on fake claims for injections that were never administered. The charges against the brothers include the conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, five counts of healthcare fraud each, and one count of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. These serious accusations point in the direction of a complex dubious scheme that was designed by the physicians.

According to the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, the Barroga duo ran a pain management clinic located in Dallas. Within this clinic, patients reportedly received prescriptions for substantial doses of hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine, as outlined in court documents.

Image Source: Photo by Charlie-Helen Robinson | Pexels
Image Source: Photo by Charlie-Helen Robinson | Pexels

During monthly visits, patients allegedly submitted insurance claims asserting they had received numerous corticosteroid injections. However, the U.S. Attorney's Office reported that the doctors weren't giving patients the actual injections, but were just using a needle. This way, not only were they defrauding insurance firms, the doctors were also depriving patients of treatment.

"The doctors would place a needle on the patient’s body without actually piercing the skin to mimic an injection. If patients actually received any injections they would generally receive only a small amount,

The accusations go further to suggest that the doctors, in certain cases, informed insurance companies that they had administered over 80 injections to a single patient on a given date, a claim that was contradicted by court documents.

For these fraudulent services, which the doctors billed as health care benefit programs, and ultimately received a substantial sum of approximately $12 million in payment.

Image Source: Photo by Thirdman | Pexels
Image Source: Photo by Thirdman | Pexels

The potential legal ramifications for the doctor duo are severe. If found guilty, the Barrogas could face up to 10 years in federal prison for each count of healthcare fraud and up to 20 years for the distribution of a controlled substance. The gravity of the charges shows the serious nature of the alleged actions and the potential consequences awaiting the accused doctors. It also sheds light on the negligence as well as the risk their actions posed for vulnerable patients. As opposed to the opioid crisis where patients were given medication that was addictive or wasn't meant for them, here the doctors didn't administer any medicine into the body, while submitting claims for it.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The guest had no idea about the item being a Tiffany product and being embedded with a rare gem.
14 hours ago
The host was baffled by the goof up that the contestant made between two words.
15 hours ago
Carey showed that he has got the weapon of sarcasm, and he isn't afraid to use it.
16 hours ago
Whatever the host was expecting, it was far away from what the contestant said on national TV.
17 hours ago
The guest was surprised to learn more about the item he had actually found on the street for free.
19 hours ago
After going through everything on the board, the player left Harvey in hysterics with his answer.
1 day ago
As it so turned out, the weird-looking floor lamp was a piece from a very famous studio.
1 day ago
Most contestants were consistently getting the answers wrong, and Harvey was worried about what was next.
2 days ago
Some claimed that they got the puzzle despite English being their second language.
2 days ago
The letter was written to a columnist in response to a piece taking a swipe at Sinatra.
2 days ago
In a special episode of Celebrity Family Feud, a WWE star decided to go for the one thing Harvey is known for.
2 days ago
Luck was shining for her as she was off to a flying start and won the car with a single card.
2 days ago
Sajak had a witty reply for the contestant who was fanboying over White during the game.
5 days ago
The model said that considering White's age she would also take the offer from Sony.
5 days ago
Sheila won a brand new entertainment unit, complete with an HD plasma TV and mini bar from Howard Miller.
6 days ago
The appraiser disclosed that Yoakum began painting in the 1960s and he created one unique piece of art every single day.
6 days ago
The entrepreneur also managed to get the sharks to taste the vegan alternative meant for pets.
6 days ago
Throughout the game Monica tried to calm her nerves by placing her right hand over her chest.
7 days ago
Harvey later realized that the contestant had a crush on him and they had a moment.
7 days ago
The host had warned the men in advance to not risk their marriage for some points.
Mar 24, 2025