DALLAS — Two North Texas pain management doctors pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud charges, federal officials announced Tuesday.
Drs. Desi and Deno Barroga, both 51, were indicted in November 2023 and pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count each of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, according to a news release.
The brothers admitted to defrauding insurance companies, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Healthcare by submitting claims for corticosteroid injections that were never administered, according to court documents.
“As part of the conspiracy, the Barrogas required patients to submit to monthly office visits. This allowed patients to continue receiving highly addictive Schedule II controlled substances – including hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine – while allowing the defendants to bill patients’ insurance companies for expensive services they never provided,” a news release stated.
“The Barrogas reported to insurance that they performed as many as 80 corticosteroid injections per patient per visit. In reality, the majority of these injections were never administered. In many instances, the doctor simply placed a needle on the patient’s body without actually piercing the skin to mimic giving an injection.”
The Barrogas also created fake medical records and instructed patients to include false statements pertaining to treatments in the record, federal officials say.
In plea papers, the brothers admitted that they billed insurers at least $45 million and were paid at least $9 million as part of the scheme. They now face up to 10 years each in federal prison.
Under the terms of their plea agreement, the Barrogas agreed to surrender their DEA registrations and forfeit their medical licenses at least 14 days before sentencing. They also agreed to joint and several restitution in an amount to be determined later by the court.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the U.S Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S Office of Personnel Management’s Office of the Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division Diversion Group, and the Texas Department of Insurance – Fraud Unit – Austin and Fort Worth Field Offices conducted the investigation.
