Ex Main Line Doctor Sentenced For Patient Death, Pill Ring: U.S. Attorney

BRYN MAWR, PA – A former doctor who had two practices in the Philadelphia area, one on the Main Line, was sentenced to hard time recently for his role in a pill ring that "preyed upon individuals addicted to prescription drugs" and led to the death of one person, according to Acting U. S. Attorney Louis D. Lappen.

Jeffrey Bado – who practiced medicine at 5735 Ridge Ave. Roxborugh from 2010 to 2011 and at 574B W. Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr from 2011 to 2013 – was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison.

Bado was sentenced for illegal distribution of controlled substances resulting in death and additional charges stemming from Bado’s operation of a pill mill where he prescribed large amounts of oxycodone and methadone without medical justification, according to Lappen's office.

Bado was convicted in December 2016 after a three-month trial on two counts of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of drug distribution resulting in death, 269 counts of drug distribution, 33 counts of health care fraud, and two counts of making false statements to federal agents.

Bado will also serve three years of supervised release upon release from prison, pay restitution of $916.75 to health care insurers and Medicare in connection with his conviction on 33 counts of health care fraud, and to pay a fine of $50,000 and a special assessment of $30,700. The court also entered a judgment of forfeiture, Lappen's office said.

"Bado preyed upon individuals addicted to prescription drugs, and his unmitigated greed knew no bounds,” Lappen said. "He charged 'new patients,' who were just addicts and others drug dealers as much $800 for an appointment to obtain an illegal prescription for opioids. Instead of helping sick and injured people as a doctor should, Bado simply perpetuated the cycle of prescription and opioid drug abuse that is devastating our communities."

Evidence at trial showed that Bado had prescribed large amounts of oxycodone and methadone
to clients of his practice outside the usual course of professional practice and without medical necessity, Lappen's office said.

Bado also refused to accept medical insurance, and insisted that his patients pay large cash fees in retur for prescriptions, and provided patients at most a cursory physical examination and little other medical care or treatment.

In one instance, Bado’s illegal drug distribution caused the death of a drug addicted patient, according to Lappen's office. The mother of the deceased patient visited Bado on two occasions after his passing, and she asked Bado to stop prescribing opiates to her other son, who was addicted to the painkillers. Bado ignored the mother’s request. The mother then made a written complaint about Bado to the Pennsylvania authorities.

Bado issued prescriptions tailored to the needs of drug addicts and dealers; he complied with patients’ requests for specific concentrations of oxycodone and, without medical justification, switched patients’ prescriptions to pill concentrations commanding a higher street value, according to Lappen's office.

Even when Bado knew patients were addicted to oxycodone, were using illegal drugs, or were not taking the oxycodone prescribed, he continued to provide prescriptions for large amounts of oxycodone, Lappen's office said. Multiple former patients testified to be coming addicted to oxycodone prescribed by him. There was no evidence at trial suggesting Bado had referred patients to opioid addiction treatment.

Bado was also convicted of health care fraud, having fraudulently billed Medicare and private insurers for patient visits that occurred when Bado was out of the country, according to Lappen's office. Bado directed his staff to see patients, provide them with pre-signed prescriptions, and submit fraudulent insurance claims as if he had seen the patients himself. Bado was convicted of making false statements to federal agents concerning these billings.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maureen McCartney, Jason P. Bologna, Andrew J. Schell, and Nancy Beam Winter.

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