PHILADELPHIA — A federal judge has prescribed prison time for a former Huntington Valley doctor who authorities accused of distributing “goodie bags” containing prescription drugs as part of an insurance fraud scheme.
Andrew Berkowitz, 62, whose exact address was unavailable, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia to 20 years in a federal prison and five years of supervised relief after he pleaded guilty to 19 counts of health care fraud and 23 counts of distributing oxycodone outside the course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose, charges for which he was indicted in June 2019.
Berkowitz, who prosecutors alleged ran a prescription “pill mill” from his medical practice in Philadelphia under the name of A+ Pain Management, also must pay a $40,000 fine and nearly $4 million in restitution, according to court officials.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Diamond who ordered Berkowitz to forfeit fraud proceeds of approximately $3.4 million and four properties.
With the charges, federal authorities alleged Berkowitz fraudulently billed insurers for medically unnecessary physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments and prescription drugs, and for treatments never provided.
“Doctors who dare engage in healthcare fraud and drug diversion, two drivers of the opioid epidemic ravaging our communities, should heed this sentence as a warning that they will be held responsible, criminally and financially,”...
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