Cape Cod Doctor Indicted For Illegally Prescribing Painkillers

(Associated Press) - A Cape Cod doctor has been charged with illegally prescribing opiates and overbilling the state's low-income health program.

Attorney General Maura Healy said Dr. Mohammed Nassery was indicted Friday on 11 counts of illegal prescribing, nine counts of Medicaid false claims and one count of larceny. Healy said Nassery has agreed not to practice medicine in Massachusetts.

A message seeking comment was left at his Hyannis business, Ariana Pediatric Neurology.

Healy said records indicate Nassery prescribed oxycodone and related painkillers to patients with documented substance abuse, including some in addiction programs or who also were getting the medications from other doctors. She said that led pharmacies to unknowingly bill the state MassHealth program for the prescriptions.

She said he also overbilled MassHealth for simple office visits that were coded as more complex appointments.