Criminal case against Anesthesiology Resident for drug diversion and civil case against a provider billing for unapproved treatments
Today, Acting United States Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced criminal charges against a resident at Seattle Children’s Hospital, UW Medical Center, and Harborview, and a civil settlement with a medical practice as part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The criminal charge stems from the criminal complaint filed against an anesthesiology resident who diverted narcotic pain medication for his own use. The civil settlement is with a company that billed federal medical programs for medications that were considered experimental and not approved for the diagnoses.
“Our work in health care fraud is both to protect patients and protect important government programs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “The medical resident stole narcotics and used them while at work in the UW hospital system, putting patients in jeopardy. Pinnacle Health PC, a Seattle based healthcare provider, billed more than $500,000 for treatments that were experimental and had not been approved, potentially harming patients and making false claims on federal funds.”
“This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”
The cases announced today by Acting U.S. Attorney Miller are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in alleged false billings and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the Government, in connection with the Takedown, seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets.
The following individual was charged in the Western District of Washington:
Andrew Voegel-Podadera, 35, of Seattle, Washington, was charged by complaint with obtaining controlled substances by fraud in connection with a scheme to divert medications for his own use. As alleged in the complaint, Voegel-Podadera was an anesthesiology resident who secretly took fentanyl, hydromorphone, and other medications over the course of at least a year while working at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Harborview Medical Center, and University of Washington Medical Center. He sometimes used the diverted substances while still at the hospital, meaning he was under the influence of potent narcotics while treating patients.
“Diverting medicine away from infant patients is despicable, doubly so if the person involved is a doctor,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “If Dr. Voegel-Podadera is convicted, it will show that he violated both his oath and the law, and I am proud that DEA could help stop him.”
“FDA will continue to aggressively pursue those health care practitioners who prey on vulnerable patients by removing their needed medications, as was the criminal case against the anesthesiology resident at Seattle Children’s Hospital,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Iwanicki, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office. “We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the public health and bring to justice those would compromise patients’ health and comfort in this manner.”
The healthcare provider Pinnacle Health PC resolved civil claims that it submitted false claims to government programs:
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington began an independent investigation of Pinnacle Health PC, a Seattle based healthcare provider that specializes in regenerative treatments, acupuncture, and lifestyle and nutrition coaching. The investigation was a consequence of a referral from HHS-OIG, in which concerns were raised that Pinnacle was billing for procedures for unapproved diagnoses. Based on our analysis of Medicare claims data and in coordination with HHS-OIG, we substantiated concerns that Pinnacle violated the False Claims Act, when it billed for an injectable form of an amniotic fluid product called FlowerAmnioFlo. CMS had approved a sheet form of FlowerAmnioFlo for very limited purposes, but Pinnacle used and billed for the injectable product that was considered experimental and not approved for any diagnosis. Our investigation uncovered similar claims were billed to Tricare as well. We resolved the matter for $1,115,976.
“The scale of today’s Takedown is unprecedented, and so is the harm we’re confronting. Individuals who attempt to steal from the federal health care system and put vulnerable patients at risk will be held accountable,” said HHS-OIG Acting Inspector General Juliet T. Hodgkins. “Our agents at HHS-OIG work relentlessly to detect, investigate, and dismantle these fraud schemes. We are proud to stand with our law enforcement partners in protecting taxpayer dollars and safeguarding patient care.”
Press Release
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#ProviderArrest(s)
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#MedicallyUnnecessary
#Fentanyl
#Hydromorphone