The 7 Investigators reviewed state documents spanning the last 5 years, and we discovered more than a dozen pharmacists and physicians in metro Detroit alone, both at the center of major investigations, and with their licenses suspended for illegally prescribing and/or distributing drugs.
Some, working in tandem to commit healthcare fraud, sometimes in the millions of dollars.
Some of those charged have been ordered to pay millions in restitution, others deported to their home countries, and a few are simply serving prison time or probation.
It is such a problem, lawmakers in Lansing are beginning a new push for stricter laws against licensed health care professionals who over prescribe dangerous drugs for other than lawful medical purposes.
Just weeks ago, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) created a new drug monitoring section to stem what they call the prescription drug abuse epidemic in Michigan.
Experts estimate health care fraud costs the nation nearly $70 billion annually, many millions of that in Michigan alone. Not to mention the human cost and loss of trust for those expected to uphold their medical or pharmaceutical oath.
