Jury convicts Philly doctor who ran pill mills

A federal jury on Thursday convicted a doctor with running a pill mill out of his offices in Roxborough and Bryn Mawr on 308 counts, including 269 of drug distribution, and one count of drug distribution resulting in death.

Jeffrey Bado, 60, who had a practice at 5735 Ridge Ave. in Roxborough from 2010 to 2011 and later ran Comprehensive Pain Consultants at 574B W. Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr from 2011 to 2013, prescribed large amounts of oxycodone and methadone to clients, and in one instance "caused the death of a drug-addicted patient," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

"By the time Bado's practice closed in 2013, Bado was charging new patients $800 cash per visit, returning patients $400 cash, and refusing to accept medical insurance," the statement said. "Bado's patients received at most a cursory physical examination and little other medical care or treatment . . . and prescriptions for staggering amounts of opioids."

The Philadelphia resident, who was indicted in February 2015, was also convicted of health care fraud. Bado billed Medicare and private insurers for patient visits that happened when he was out of the country: He gave his pre-signed prescriptions to give patients, and then submitted false reports.

- Staff report