Dr. Abdul Naushad, 58, and his wife, Wajiha Naushad, 47, were also ordered to repay $235,977, according to an Aug. 25 Justice Department news release.
The Justice Department said that on more than 1,000 occasions spanning almost a decade, Dr. Naushad and his wife injected unknowing patients with a cheaper version of Orthovisc that had not been approved by the FDA. Orthovisc is injected into the knee to relieve osteoarthritis pain, and the FDA-approved drug is available in the U.S. only by prescription.
The Naushads hid their actions from patients, employees and publicly funded health insurance programs by evading questions from their chief of purchasing, among other tactics, according to the Justice Department.
Ms. Naushad was sentenced to three years of probation.
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