California doctors charged with $30M surgery scam involving hundreds of patients

Three doctors were charged with billing insurers for $30 million (euro22.2 million) of unnecessary surgery performed on nearly 1,000 patients recruited from around the United States.

Authorities said the patients received money or low-cost cosmetic procedures for participating in the "rent-a-patient" scam at Unity Outpatient Surgery Center.

More than $5 million (euro3.7 million) of the insurance claims were paid, authorities said.

Arrested Wednesday were Dr. Michael Chan, an obstetrician; Dr. William Hampton, a surgeon; and Dr. Mario Z. Rosenberg, a gastroenterologist.

Each was charged with 47 felony counts including conspiracy after billing 19 insurance companies for what authorities said were unnecessary colonoscopies and surgeries on 940 patients. Bail ranged from $1 million (euro740,000) to $2.3 million (euro1.7 million).

Each doctor could face nearly 50 years in prison. The California Medical Board was also pursuing suspension of their licenses.

Fourteen other people _ five administrators and nine recruiters _ have been charged as part of a four-year investigation.

Their first court appearance was pending. It was not immediately known whether any had retained attorneys.