Doctor faces prescription fraud charges

Thursday, February 2, 2006

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Dr. Satyanarayana Rao Korabathina was arrested Thursday.

A Pasco County doctor has been charged with handing out illegal prescriptions and defrauding the state.

State and local law officers arrested Dr. Satyanarayana Rao Korabathina Thursday morning at the Gulf Harbor Medical Clinic on U.S. 19 near Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey.

Korabathina faces eight counts of prescription fraud and two counts of Medicaid fraud. Detectives said they confiscated files that show he has too many patients looking to feed their addictions, especially for a family practice doctor.

"We've been receiving information for eight to nine months from the public and pharmacists asking when we would do something about Dr. Korabathina," said Lt. Robert Sullivan of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

The investigation began in June, when three undercover detectives began coming to the clinic. The arrest warrant says the doctor gave them prescriptions for painkillers without doing examinations or asking for any medical history.

One patient said she was given a prescription for painkillers even though she didn't need it.

"This guys just a scrip doctor," said patient Christie Zukkerman. "I went in for a lump on my leg and he didn't even look at it. He gave me a prescription for a painkiller and said if this doesn't work go to the emergency room. Did not even look at a lump on my leg."

But other patients said if you asked Korabathina for drugs illegally, he would throw you out.

Korabathina works at this New Port Richey clinic.

Korabathina would not comment for this story as he was being apprehended, but his wife said he's a good man who's done nothing wrong.

If Korabathina bonds out of jail, he could open shop again right away, because even if his license is suspended, it would take a week to notify him by mail. Detectives said Korabathina is cooperating with the investigation.

Some patients said they are sad to see the doctor arrested because his office was a good place for the uninsured to go, as first-time visits are only $65.