Controversy Surrounds Pain Management Clinics Over Fraudulent Practices
In McMinnville, Tennessee, Michelle Shaw, 56, spoke out about her distressing experiences at Pain MD clinics, revealing a troubling link between desperate patients and a fraudulent medical practice. Shaw and her fiancé, Thomas Truss, recounted their encounters with the clinic, which allegedly pressured patients into submitting to painful injections near the spine to maintain access to their much-needed opioid prescriptions. While Shaw felt compelled to comply, Truss refused the injections and was subsequently discharged from the facility.
A System Designed for Profit
For years, Pain MD operated under the premise that these injections—allegedly steroid-based—were crucial for alleviating pain. However, Shaw claimed that the injections resulted in increased suffering rather than relief. “The shots made my pain worse,” she lamented, as she disclosed that her reliance on opioids for pain management began after a fall a decade prior. Shaw reluctantly accepted these injections, fearing that the alternative would lead to losing her access to pain medication.
“I had nowhere else to go at the time,” she testified in court, highlighting the grim reality many patients face when dealing with chronic pain.
The Fallout of Fraud
The revelation that Pain MD’s injection practices were part of a larger fraud scheme emerged during the trial of company president Michael Kestner, who was found guilty in October of 2024 of multiple felonies related to healthcare fraud. According to court records, Pain MD had billed government programs for an extraordinary number of so-called “tendon origin injections,” which were, in reality, not targeting the intended area and often utilized anesthetic without any steroid content.
The false claims extended across various states and resulted in substantial profits for the company, despite the rampant suffering caused to patients. Kestner’s trial unveiled the sheer scale of these misleading practices, including the administration of around 700,000 injections over eight years.
Table: Pain MD’s Injections and Financial Impact
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Total Injections Billed | 700,000 |
| Medicare Payments Collected | $5 million |
| Insurance Claims Filed | 380,000 |
During the trial, witnesses detailed alarming accounts, including patients receiving upwards of 24 shots per visit, contrasting with standard medical practices which suggest the need for much fewer injections. The same session revealed that these patients often left in worse condition than they arrived—many incapacitated by pain—which raised serious ethical and legal questions about Pain MD’s operating procedures.
Wider Implications
The Pain MD case highlights a disturbing trend within the healthcare system where financial incentives can overshadow patient welfare. Experts believe the misuse of injections for profit is indicative of broader issues within pain management practices across the country. Moreover, the ongoing lawsuit against Kestner and his associates serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between medical treatment and ethical practice.
As the fallout continues for Pain MD, industry observers are left questioning the implications for healthcare reforms aimed at curbing fraud while ensuring that patients receive the responsible, effective care they deserve.
