'''Michael Drobot''' is a convicted felon who pleaded guilty to orchestrating the largest fraud in California’s history.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.presstelegram.com/government-and-politics/20140221/long-beach-pacific-hospital-fraud-called-largest-in-california-history | title=Long Beach Pacific Hospital fraud called largest in California history| date=2014-02-21}}</ref> In 2018, he was sentenced for "overseeing a 15-year-long healthcare fraud scheme" involving over $40 million in illegal kickbacks and $500 million in fraudulent medical bills.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-12 |title=Central District of California {{!}} Former Hospital Owner Sentenced to over 5 Years in Prison for Orchestrating Scheme that Paid over $40 Million in Illegal Kickbacks to Doctors, Other Medical Professionals for Spinal Surgery Referrals {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-hospital-owner-sentenced-over-5-years-prison-orchestrating-scheme-paid-over-40 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref> The scheme involved bribing physicians to ensure "patients received surgeries at Pacific Hospital, not knowing that [Drobot] bribed their physician to perform their surgery at Pacific Hospital." Between 1978 and 2013, Drobot managed 28 hospitals along the East Coast, including the Mount Sinai Roosevelt in New York (formerly the Roosevelt Medical Center). At the time of his crimes and arrest, he owned Pacific Hospital in Long Beach (now College Medical Center).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=Ex-owner of Long Beach Hospital sentenced to prison in forfeiture case |url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2023/11/17/ex-owner-of-long-beach-hospital-sentenced-to-prison-in-forfeiture-case/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=Press Telegram |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Career==
===Early years in hospital administration=== Drobot spent his early years in Detroit, Michigan, before joining the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. During his time in the Navy, Drobot managed the Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. Upon his discharge from the Navy, Drobot earned an MBA in hospital administration from George Washington University and began a career in hospital management.
===Healthcare administration in California===
Drobot's Concept Health Group, Inc. acquired the Healthcare Medical Center of Tustin in July 1990.<ref>{{cite web|last=Woodyard|first=Chris|title=Tustin Hospital Acquired by Washington Company|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 7, 1990|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-27-fi-871-story.html|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref> Drobot had been the executive director of Healthcare Medical Center from 1980 to 1984. Under Drobot, Concept Healthcare expanded the hospital’s services deeper into the Irvine area and added new centers for oncology and sports medicine.
Drobot's longest association was with Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, which he owned and managed from 1997 to 2013, when it was sold to Molina Healthcare and became College Medical Center.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pacific Hospital of Long Beach|publisher=Pacific Hospital of Long Beach|url= http://pacifichospitaloflongbeach.blogspot.com/2013_04_01_archive.html/|accessdate=April 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Maio|first=Pat|title= Health chain buys Pacific Hospital of Long Beach|publisher=The Orange County Register|date=October 8, 2013|url= http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hospital-530190-pacific-molina.html/|accessdate=April 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Woodyard|first=Chris|title=Tustin Hospital Acquired by Washington Company|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 7, 1990|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-27-fi-871-story.html|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref> During his tenure as CEO, the hospital implemented measures to improve infection control,<ref>{{cite podcast |url=http://audio.californiareport.org/archive/R201103170850/a |title=Preventing Hospital-Acquired Infections |website=The California Report |publisher=KQED Public Radio |host=Sarah Varney |date=March 17, 2011 |access-date=April 14, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Varney |first=Sarah |date=March 28, 2011 |title=Hospitals Face New Pressure To Cut Infection Rates |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/05/28/136712657/hospitals-face-new-pressure-to-cut-infection-rates/ |accessdate=April 15, 2015 |publisher=NPR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Molina Healthcare of California |url=http://www.molinahealthcare.com/members/ca/en-us/Pages/home.aspx?CookieLess_s=http://www.molinahealthcare.com%7C&CookieLess_v=members}}</ref> and was recognized by the Southern California Patient Safety First (SCPSF) initiative for reducing sepsis mortality and hospital-associated infection rates between 2010 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last=Floressantos |first=Francisco |title=Pacific Hospital Long Beach – Reducing Hospital-Acquired Infections Across the Board |url=http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ffloressantos-0713.pdf/ |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |publisher=California HealthCare News}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3vkR7BzWl8|title=How to stop hospital infections}}</ref> In 2009, the hospital received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. However, these achievements were later overshadowed by Drobot's criminal activities, which significantly impacted the hospital's reputation.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 23, 2013 |title=Pacific Hospital Receives Congressional Award for During International Infection Prevention Week |url=http://pacifichospitaloflongbeach.blogspot.com/2013_04_01_archive.html/ |accessdate=April 1, 2015 |publisher=Pacific Hospital of Long Beach}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=WELCOME TO THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PATIENT SAFETY FIRST (SCPSF) COLLABORATIVE RESOURCE PAGE! |publisher=nhfca.org |location=Hospital Association of Southern California |url=http://www.nhfca.org/psf/hasc.aspx/ |access-date=April 14, 2015 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>
In 2013, Pacific Hospital of Long Beach was accredited by National Integrated Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations<ref>{{cite web|last=Pizzi|first=Richard|title=Medicare approves new hospital accreditation organization |publisher=Healthcare Financial|date=September 29, 2008|url=http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/medicare-approves-new-hospital-accreditation-organization/|accessdate=April 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=DNV Healthcare Inc's Accreditation Program for Hospitals Approved by CMS |url=http://www.hallrender.com/library/articles/467/DNV%20Healthcare.pdf|publisher=nhfca.org |date=April 29, 2009 |access-date=April 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Floressantos|first=Francisco|title=Pacific Hospital Long Beach – Reducing Hospital-Acquired Infections Across the Board |publisher=California HealthCare News|url=http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ffloressantos-0713.pdf/|accessdate=April 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube| id= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3vkR7BzWl8|title=How to stop hospital infections}}</ref> for meeting its standards of patient care and quality management. The same year, the hospital was also designated as ISO 9001:3008 compliant by [https://www.dnv.com/healthcare/ DNV Healthcare],<ref>{{cite web|last=Kenney|first=Lynn|title=HOSPITAL ACCREDITING ORGANIZATIONS OFFER DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THE SURVEY PROCESS|publisher=American Hospital Association|date=2013|url=http://www.ashe.org/resources/ashenews/2013/hosp_ao_article_131011.html#.VUQh2CmFufR/|accessdate=April 30, 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429134348/http://www.ashe.org/resources/ashenews/2013/hosp_ao_article_131011.html#.VUQh2CmFufR/|archivedate=April 29, 2015}}</ref> an accreditor of US hospitals integrating ISO 9001 quality compliance with the Medicare Conditions of Participation.
==Convictions and lawsuits==
During a criminal investigation in February 2014, Drobot was charged by the FBI in connection with organizing a broad scheme and providing unauthorized payments.<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Former Owner of Long Beach Hospital Charged in Health Care Fraud Scheme That Paid Tens of Millions of Dollars in Kickbacks for Referrals for Spinal Surgeries Billed to Workers' Comp Programs |url=https://www.fbi.gov/losangeles/press-releases/2014/former-owner-of-long-beach-hospital-charged-in-health-care-fraud-scheme-that-paid-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-in-kickbacks-for-referrals-for-spinal-surgeries-billed-to-workers-comp-programs|location=Central District of California |publisher=FBI.gov |date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=April 14, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Andrew|title= Former Pacific Hospital owner Michael Drobot pleads guilty in fraud case|publisher=Press-Telegram|date=April 24, 2014|url= http://www.presstelegram.com/general-news/20140424/former-pacific-hospital-owner-michael-drobot-pleads-guilty-in-fraud-case/|accessdate=April 15, 2015}}</ref> As part of the indictment, Drobot was charged with bribing Senator Ron Calderon to preserve California’s “spinal pass-through law.”<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=California State Senator Ronald Calderon Charged with Taking Bribes in Exchange for Official Acts on Behalf of Hospital Owner and Independent Film Studio That was Actually an FBI Front|location=Central District of California |publisher=FBI.gov |date=February 21, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Aguilera|first=Elizabeth|title=A Calderon connection: Ex-hospital chief Michael Drobot admits to bribery, conspiracy|publisher=89.3KPCC|date=February 21, 2014|url= http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/02/21/42371/a-calderon-connection-ex-hospital-chief-michael-dr/ |accessdate=April 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Aaronson|first=Trevor |title= FBI: California state senator aided alleged multimillion-dollar fraud |publisher=Aljazeera America|date=October 30, 2013|url= http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/10/30/fbi-california-statesenatoraidedallegedmultimilliondollarfraud.html/|accessdate=April 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Rosenhall|first=Laurel|title= California lawmakers tussled over payments for spinal implants |publisher=The Sacramento Bee|date=June 14, 2013|url= http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article2577822.html/|accessdate=April 20, 2015}}{{dead link|date=October 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Senator Calderon was separately indicted by the FBI for accepting bribes and kickbacks from Drobot and others. Drobot signed a plea agreement to cooperate in the government’s ongoing investigation of Senator Calderon and his brother, Tom Calderon, and also into the healthcare fraud scheme known as Operation Spinal Cap.<ref>{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Authur|title=Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage|year=2001|publisher=McGraw-Hill/Irvin |isbn=9780072319804|url=https://archive.org/details/craftingexecutin00thom|url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Coker|first=Mike|title=Michael D. Drobot Signs Plea Deal to Testify Against Slimed Legislator Ron Calderon |publisher=OCWeekly|date=February 25, 2014|url= http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2014/02/michael_d_drobot_calderon_ron.php/|accessdate=April 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Operation "Spinal Cap" - Former Long Beach Hospital Owner Charged in $500 Million Scheme|location=California Statewide Law Enforcement Association for Lodge #77|publisher=CSLEA Management |date=February 25, 2014 }}</ref>
In October 2014, Drobot and his business partners were sued for using counterfeit screws and hardware in spinal surgeries<ref>{{cite web|last=Foshay|first=Karen|title= Spinal surgery patients file lawsuits alleging counterfeit hardware was implanted in their spines|publisher=89.3KPCC|date=October 17, 2014|url= http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/10/17/47474/spinal-surgery-patients-file-lawsuits-alleging-cou/|accessdate=April 15, 2015}}</ref> performed at Pacific Hospital and other area hospitals. At a court hearing on February 20, 2015, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elihu M. Berle rejected the claims against the group, as in 29 out of 32 cases, the plaintiffs were not treated at Pacific Hospital.<ref>{{cite web|last=Coker|first=Mike|title= Michael D. Drobot and His Former Pacific Hospital of Long Beach Win a Round in Court|publisher=OCWeekly|date=March 6, 2015|url= http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2014/02/michael_d_drobot_calderon_ron.php/|accessdate=April 15, 2015}}</ref> In October 2014, Drobot filed a $50 million defamation suit against attorneys Brian Kabateck and Robert Hutchinson and the law firms of Kabateck Brown Kellner, Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy and Knox Ricksen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Coker|first=Mike|title= Michael D. Drobot of Pacific Hospital Fame Files $50 mil Defamation Suit Against Lawyers|publisher=OCWeekly|date=October 28, 2014|url= http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2014/10/michael_d_drobot_sues_defamation_lawyers.php/|accessdate=April 15, 2015}}</ref> In April 2015, Drobot and his company Healthsmart Pacific, Inc. filed a lawsuit against 30 individuals and their attorneys for claiming that Drobot and Healthsmart’s former hospital, Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, harmed them via a counterfeit screw conspiracy. Drobot agreed to cooperate fully with prosecutors in a case that U.S. attorney’s office spokesman Thom Mrozek described as 'active and ongoing."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.revealnews.org/article/ex-hospital-executive-in-kickback-scheme-looks-to-spread-the-blame/|title = Ex-hospital executive in kickback scheme looks to spread the blame|date = 13 April 2015}}</ref>
In 2018, Drobot was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $10 million to the federal government in forfeiture. Subsequently, federal prosecutors further charged him with wire fraud, among other crimes, to which Drobot pled guilty in 2019. His house and other assets were then seized by the government.<ref name=":0" />
Drobot was released from prison in February 2023.<ref name=":0" /> On July 14, 2023, Drobot was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for accepting more than $315,000 in bribes and kickbacks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/oc-surgeon-sentenced-over-2-years-prison-accepting-over-300000-illicit-payments|title = O.C. Surgeon Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Prison for Accepting Over $300,000 in Illicit Payments to Perform Surgeries at Corrupt Hospital|date = July 14, 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Drobot, Michael}} Category:Businesspeople from Detroit Category:George Washington University alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people