Massachusetts Orthopedic Surgeon Sentenced for Health Care Fraud and Excessive Opioid Prescriptions

Photo byMyriam ZillesonUnsplash

BOSTON – According to a US attorney press release, Dr. Olarewaju James Oladipo, a 60-year-old orthopedic surgeon from Canton, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in federal court for his involvement in a health care fraud scheme and for being one of the top opioid prescribers in the state. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs handed down a 16-month prison term followed by a year of supervised release.

In December 2023, a federal jury found Oladipo guilty of 10 counts of health care fraud, following allegations that from January 2016 to December 2019, he fraudulently billed health care benefit programs for non-provided services. Prosecutors detailed how Oladipo exploited billing codes intended for lengthy patient visits to claim higher payments for quick consultations, some lasting only five minutes or less, despite billing for services that would typically require much more time, the release said.

Moreover, the prosecution argued that Oladipo's practice attracted a high volume of patients due to his liberal prescription of addictive opioids like oxycodone, particularly to individuals grappling with opioid addiction, thereby exacerbating the opioid crisis in Massachusetts.

The case was brought to attention by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, with significant contributions from the FBI's Boston Division, the Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, National Insurance Crime Bureau, and the Drug Enforcement Administration also provided crucial support, the release went on to say.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan D. Panich and William B. Brady led the prosecution, emphasizing the severe impact of Oladipo's actions on the integrity of healthcare programs and the well-being of his patients.