Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1027775
40 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT 8 surgeons involved in $950M 'Operation Spinal Cap' kickback scheme: 7 things to know By Mackenzie Garrity A total of 17 individuals, including eight orthopedic, spine and neu- rosurgeons, have been charged in a 15-year long, $950 million healthcare fraud scheme nicknamed Operational Spinal Cap, according to the Press Telegram. Here are seven things to know: 1. Investigators allege various surgeons throughout Corona Del Mar, Irvine and Dana Point, Calif., took kickbacks and bribes to di- rect or perform spine surgeries at Pacific Hos- pital of Long Beach (Calif.). 2. Orthopedic surgeons David Hobart Payne, MD, and Jeffrey David Gross, MD, are ac- cused of accepting $450,000 and $622,000, respectively, to funnel more than $29 mil- lion in spine surgeries to the hospital, Patch reported. Neurosurgeon Jeffrey Lokesh Tan- tuwaya, MD, allegedly received $3.2 million in bribes to direct and perform $38 million in surgeries at Pacific Hospital of Long Beach. 3. In late June, nine physicians were charged in the healthcare fraud scheme, including orthopedic surgeon Danie Capen, MD, and Timothy Hunt, MD, according to e Orange County Register. Both surgeons agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges involving illegal kickbacks. Dr. Capen pled guilty to submitting $142 million in claims and receiving nearly $56 million in kickbacks. Tiffany Rogers, MD, was also listed on the indictment. It is unclear if she agreed to plead guilty. 4. Orthopedic spine surgeon Jacob Tauber, MD, and neurosurgeon Serge Obukhoff, MD, were indicted in mid-July, according to the Press Telegram. Both surgeons are accused of accepting close to $40 million in exchange for their referrals. 5. Among the other 17 defendants are chiro- practors Lauren Papa and Brian Carrico as well as OB/GYN William Parker, MD. Ms. Papa agreed to plead guilty to the conspira- cy charges, according to e Orange County Register. 6. Altogether, the defendants are accused of committing a $2 billion healthcare fraud scheme, according to the Press Telegram. Pacific Hospital of Long Beach CFO of Phy- sician Management George Hammer pled guilty to tax charges aer falsely classifying il- legal kickbacks in the hospital's corporate tax filings, e Orange County Register reported. 7. Additionally, former Pacific Hospital of Long Beach owner Michael Drobot was sen- tenced to more than five years in federal pris- on back in January for his role in the scheme, according to Patch. n Simple. Sterile. Single-use. Stericerv™ For more information on specific Zavation systems, please see package inserts at http://zavation.com/general-information/ 220 Lakeland Parkway – Flowood, MS – 601.919.1119 – www.zavation.com – sales@zavation.com Cervical instrument kit that is compatible with Zavation's standard, midline, and all-in-one devices. STE-0001.P1A