Twin doctors Deno and Desi Barroga, aged 51, confessed to defrauding insurance companies of $45 million by administering fake pain relief injections to thousands of patients. The men who claimed their injections contained corticosteroids are now facing legal consequences for their actions.
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While operating their rehabilitation clinic, the Barogas attracted various patients seeking treatment for arthritis, sciatica, and back pain. Major insurers funded the practice, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Healthcare. However, an investigation revealed that the brothers were pressing needles against the patients’ skin without actually injecting the corticosteroids. They would then rub the area with local anesthetic to mimic the discomfort of a real shot.
The twins confessed to submitting fraudulent claims to insurance companies, falsely stating that they performed 80 injections per patient during each visit. According to the Daily Mail, they fabricated medical records, often cloning or minimally altering information from one patient to another. Additionally, they coerced patients to include false statements about the injections and other treatments in their medical records.
Between 2016 and 2022, the doctors billed insurers for at least $45 million and received payments totaling at least $9 million. They are now awaiting sentencing and face up to 10 years in prison. Additionally, as part of their plea agreement, they must surrender their DEA registrations and forfeit their medical licenses at least 14 days before their sentences.
The brothers had their fair share of separate disciplinary issues. In 2021, the Texas Medical Board placed Desi Barrog on a remedial plan for failing to maintain proper medical records, patient history, and examination details. He also was unable to provide an acceptable rationale for prescribing controlled substances.
In 2016, Deno Barroga was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and complete a physician-prescribing course after the board discovered he had inappropriately prescribed controlled substances and other medications to his patients.