Amid Opioid Crisis, Pain Doc Settles Overtesting Probe

A Florida pain doctor whose former partner faced criminal and civil allegations for kickback schemes reached his own civil settlement and will repay $1.7 million.

Jonathan Daitch, a partner at Advanced Pain Management & Spine Specialists in Fort Myers, Fla., reached the agreement to resolve allegations that he improperly billed Medicare and TRICARE for excessive urine drug testing conducted at an in-house lab, the Justice Department said Dec. 20.

The government also alleged Daitch triggered overpayments by billing anesthesia services through a clinic he owned, when in fact the work was performed by independent nurse-anesthetists earning contracted rates.

The case ...