Wilmont Kreis

Once Philomene moves to Betsy's she meets Betsy's son, Joe. As Young as Philomene, he is the only surviving son to work his late father's farm. It is love at first sight and they soon marry and began to work the farm together.

I was just thinking how much has changed in healthcare since I wrote the CORRIDOR and THE PAIN DOC WHEN THIS APPEARED IN CRAIN'S
Scheme allegedly involved millions of opioid drugs, unnecessary medical procedures
Doctor operated clinics in Warren, Eastpointe
Nearly $500 million was billed to insurers, mostly Medicare and Medicaid
Five metro Detroit doctors and one from the Grand Rapids area have been indicted for allegedly running a $464 million health care fraud scheme that involved millions of opioid drugs and unnecessary medical procedures in Southeastern Michigan, federal officials announced Thursday.

An indictment unsealed Thursday says the doctors prescribed opioids to induce people to visit and patients were forced to undergo other treatments.

Nearly $500 million was billed to insurers, mostly Medicare and Medicaid, the officials said. Doctors submitted claims of more than $182.5 million to Medicare, $272.6 million to Medicaid and $9.2 million to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, prosecutors allege.

The alleged ringleader was Rajendra Bothra, M.D., who operated pain clinics in Warren and Eastpointe. He's charged with conspiracy, fraud and other crimes. The identity of his lawyer wasn't immediately known.


U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said it's "particularly egregious" for doctors to prey on addicts.

The 56 count indictment cites three clinics in Macomb County: The Pain Center USA PLLC at 27423 Van Dyke Ave., Suite A, in Warren, and 22480 Kelly Road in Eastpointe; and Interventional Pain Center PLLC, also at 27423 Van Dyke.

Four of the doctors were to be arraigned in federal court Thursday afternoon, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Michigan

The indictment charges that Bothra, 77, of Bloomfield Hills, owned and operated a pain clinic in Warren that sought to bill insurance companies for the maximum number of services and procedures possible with no regard to the patients' needs. Dr. Eric Backos, 65, of Bloomfield Hills; Dr. Ganiu Edu, 50, of Southfield; Dr. David Lewis, 41, of Detroit; Dr. Christopher Russo, 50 of Birmingham; and Dr. Ronald Kufner, 68 of Ada, all worked at the clinic in varying capacities but each prescribed opioid pain medication to induce patients to come in for office visits. Once there, in order to receive the highly addictive opioid prescriptions, patients were forced to undergo ancillary services, such as painful facet joint and facet block injections.

The doctors are accused of issuing more than 13,217,987 doses of opioids, including oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, from January 2013 through November 2018.

Bothra allegedly submitted false claims to insurance providers for service and devices that were "medically unnecessary," according to the indictment, and attempted to conceal that he submitted fabricated claims to insurance providers.

A call was placed Thursday to the medical clinic in Eastpointe, where a woman from the answering service who did not identify herself said the clinic is closed due to the raid and investigation.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.The Eastern District of Michigan is one of the districts included in the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit.


— Crain's Detroit Business reporter Kurt Nagl and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Read More 

11-24-18
Book Fifteen, PHILOMENE’S DOLL

Philomene’s few years with the LeBlanc family go reasonably well until she reaches puberty. Suddenly Monsieur LeBlanc has a different and nefarious attitude about his best worker as her physical characteristics become an allure to this man who has no passion at home. An old steel frying pan (a gift from the junkman Deneau) gives her the ability to cook in her small shack. When Monsieur LeBlanc becomes amorous she discovers another use for the pan. Suddenly Philomene’s position becomes untenable and she is forced to leave the farm in a panic. Read More 

11-17-18
Book Fifteen, PHILOMENE’S DOLL

With hard work and a positive attitude, Philomene becomes a successful and valued member of the farming family. In spite of Madam LeBlanc's poor attitude, Philomene is able to win the confidence of Monsieur LeBlanc and the children and helps him turn his hovel farm to a successful enterprise. Image LeBlanc farm. Read More 

Book Fifteen, PHILOMENE’S DOLL

The nuns arrange for Philomene to be taken to her new home by the local junk man, Monsieur Francois Deneau. A pleasant but odd fellow, he is very talkative and optimistic as he takes her to her new family. Arriving at her new residence, it is apparent this is not of the standards found with the LaForest family. The house is in terrible repair, the farm barely functions, and the mother of the family is… well, simply put, fat, lazy, and mean as a snake. Image Leblanc farm.  Read More 

11-4-18
Book Fifteen, PHILOMENE’S DOLL

The Nuns in Belle River are confident another suitable home can be found for Philomene, but a poor economy and other circumstances seem to work against her. So she remains with the sisters and attends the school with the other girls of the area. She finds the environment of the convent and the lodging for the students who come from a distance, very suitable, and as time goes on she settles into the life of a boarding student. Eventually a family is found with the LeBlanc family in northern Belle River. She hopes this will be another pleasant family… Read More 

10-26-18
Book Fifteen, PHILOMENE’S DOLL

During the next five years, Philomene excels in school, church, farming, and work around the house. She looks forward to further education and a future with seemingly unlimited potential until on awful day when her new father figure, Abner dies suddenly and violently in a farming mishap. The LaForest world is turned inside out and Marie-Paul must take her children to live with relatives and Philomene is taken in by the sisters at the church to help her search for a new home. Read More 

10-20-18
Book Fifteen, PHILOMENE’S DOLL

Life at the LaForest home becomes a Joy Philomene never expected. Abner’s wife, Marie-Paul provides a loving home where the children are treated with love and Abner and his wife, make family life and work on the farm a joy as Philomene grows to her teens in a loving environment. On her birthday, Philomene receives a wonderful yet simple gift from her aunt, a simple rag doll. The first toy that Philomene had ever receives, she calls it Jeanne, and Jeanne will and help guide Philomene through the remainder of her life. Read More 

10-13-18
Book Fifteen, PHILOMENE’S DOLL

Two weeks before Christmas, Abner LaForest from Belle River, Canada, appears to take Philomene and her young sister, Nancy, to his home in Belle River, Canada. A kind and talkative man in contrast to Philomene’s father, Abner talks all the way to Canada about his wife and family and the wonders they are to expect. In the few hours it takes for Abner’s horse to pull the threesome to the ferry at the Canadian border, Abener has likely talked to Philomene more than her own father did during her six years of childhood. Read More 

10-06-18
Book Fifteen, PHILOMENE’S DOLL

Philomene Forton is only six years old when she is standing outside her mother’s room listening to her scream during a difficult child birth. Finally her mother is silent when the midwife comes to inform the children their mother has died. The oldest, Philomene, is asked to help clean and prepare the body, a scene that will remain with her forever. Following this, her alcoholic father sends her away to live with relatives as he abandons the family. Stay tuned for more. Read More