DOJ defense attorney | The Health Law Firm Blog

What You Need to Know Right Now If the DEA is Knocking on Your Door!

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) knocking at your door or, even worse, going through your files inside your office?

If so, this is what you need to know right now!

YES, you do have the right to call your attorney. Call your attorney right now. If you cannot, ask one of your employees or spouse to call your attorney. Get your attorney involved right now!

NO, do not sign a document to relinquish or voluntarily give up your DEA registration number. If you do so, this will probably be the biggest mistake you make in […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T20:00:41-04:00March 16, 2024|Medical Education Law Blog, Nursing Law Blog|

Is the DEA Knocking on Your Door? What You Need to Know Right Now!

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) knocking at your door or, even worse, going through your files inside your office?

This is what you need to know right now!

YES, you do have the right to call your attorney. Call your attorney right now. If you cannot, ask one of your employees or spouse to call your attorney. Get your attorney involved right now!

NO, do not sign a document to relinquish or voluntarily give up your DEA registration number. If you do so, this will probably be the biggest mistake you make of your life.

NO, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:11-04:00March 2, 2024|Pharmacy Law Blog|

Florida Pharmacy Owner Pleads Guilty For Role in $8.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On September 27, 2022, a Florida pharmacy owner pled guilty to conspiring to commit healthcare fraud in an $8.3 million scheme. The scheme involved securing orders for medically unnecessary prescriptions billed to Medicare and paying bribes and kickbacks, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced. Read the DOJ’s press release here. Read the DOJ’s press release here.

The Fraudulent Scheme.

Michael Murphy allegedly invested in Cure Pharmacy in Jacksonville, Florida, and two other pharmacies participated in the Medicare program. From around November 2019 through March 2021, the government alleged, Murphy and his co-conspirators paid kickbacks and […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:13-04:00January 13, 2024|Pharmacy Law Blog|

Florida Pharmacist Gets More Than Six Years in Prison For Role in Compounding Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On November 29, 2018, a Florida pharmacist was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and ordered to pay $3.4 million, for her role in a scheme to defraud the government. Marjorie Robinson pled guilty one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for submitting fraudulent claims to Tricare, Medicare and private insurance programs for compounded creams that were not necessary.

The Fraud Scheme.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Robinson was one of three owners of ASC Pharmacy Inc., a now defunct compounding pharmacy in Miami. Under […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:19-04:00December 26, 2018|Pharmacy Law Blog|

Florida Pharmacy Owner to Serve 15 Years in Prison for $100 Million Billing Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On April 26, 2018, the owner of several Florida pharmacies was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to give up $54.5 million in restitution. Nicholas A. Borgesano Jr., owner of A to Z Pharmacies, pled guilty to his role in a $100 million scheme involving bogus insurance reimbursements for prescription drugs.

He pled guilty in November to charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:24-04:00June 26, 2018|Legal Defense for Pharmacists, Pharmacist, Pharmacy Law, Pharmacy Law Blog, Uncategorized|

Cardiologist Faces HIPAA Privacy Violation Charges for Over Sharing Patient Information

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On February 26, 2018, a pediatric cardiologist was charged with wrongfully disclosing protected patient health information in Massachusetts federal court. Prosecutors alleged that in 2013, Dr. Eduardo Montaña disclosed patient data to representatives of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals.

The Alleged HIPAA Privacy Violations.

Prosecutors said that Dr. Montaña violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) by sharing electronic medical records and prescription forms with representatives of Aegerion in 2013 without patient permission. He also allegedly gave his personal access code for an electronic medical records system to an Aegerion representative in March 2013 so the employee […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:23-04:00May 15, 2018|Medical Education Law Blog|

Cardiologist Faces HIPAA Privacy Violation Charges for Over Sharing Patient Information

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On February 26, 2018, a pediatric cardiologist was charged with wrongfully disclosing protected patient health information in Massachusetts federal court. Prosecutors alleged that in 2013, Dr. Eduardo Montaña disclosed patient data to representatives of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals.

The Alleged HIPAA Privacy Violations.

Prosecutors said that Dr. Montaña violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) by sharing electronic medical records and prescription forms with representatives of Aegerion in 2013 without patient permission. He also allegedly gave his personal access code for an electronic medical records system to an Aegerion representative in March 2013 so the employee could review […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:28-04:00May 15, 2018|Mental Health Law Blog|

New DOJ Memo Shifting Government Policy in False Claims Act Cases Should make Healthcare Providers Happy!

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On January 29, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a new internal memorandum that we believe signals a backing-off of government support for False Claims Act cases. The memorandum sent by Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand, references “vast reams” of government agency guidance explaining the government’s views and interpretation of various laws. It includes laws related to requirements for accurate billing of Medicare and Medicaid by healthcare providers.

The “Brand Memorandum.”

In the memo, Brand said the DOJ “may not use its enforcement authority to effectively convert agency guidance documents into binding […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:28-04:00May 15, 2018|Mental Health Law Blog|

New DOJ Memo Shifting Government Policy in False Claims Act Cases Should make Healthcare Providers Happy!

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On January 29, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a new internal memorandum that we believe signals a backing-off of government support for False Claims Act cases. The memorandum sent by Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand, references “vast reams” of government agency guidance explaining the government’s views and interpretation of various laws. It includes laws related to requirements for accurate billing of Medicare and Medicaid by healthcare providers.

The “Brand Memorandum.”

In the memo, Brand said the DOJ “may not use its enforcement authority to effectively convert agency guidance documents into binding rules.” The memo is […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:38-04:00May 15, 2018|Health Facilities Law Blog|