Florida prescription drug crackdown | The Health Law Firm Blog

Florida Doctors and Pharmacists Beware: Gov. Scott Declares State of Emergency for Opioid Abuse Crisis

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

On May 3, 2017, Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency to combat Florida’s opioid-addiction epidemic. According to the governor, the number of overdose deaths has reached epidemic proportions. This declaration will allow nearly $30 million in federal funding to be spent for treatment and prevention services.

Given past state actions taken to attempt to eliminate prescription pain medication abuse, physicians writing such prescriptions and pharmacies filling such prescriptions should beware. Get prepared, not only through having a good compliance program, but by contacting and having a good attorney on retainer in the event of a subpoena, raid, search warrant or arrest warrant. Additionally, always talk to your lawyer before speaking with any investigator or special agent about anything.

The Emergency Declaration.

An emergency declaration […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:41-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacy Law Blog|Tags: attorneys for physicians, Board of Medicine defense counsel, Board of Medicine defense lawyer, Board of Medicine hearing attorney, Board of Pharmacy defense lawyer, Board of Pharmacy hearing attorney, Department of Health defense counsel, drug diversion defense attorney, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) defense lawyer, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hearing lawyer, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Order to Show Cause (OTSC) attorney, Florida health care defense attorney, Florida prescription drug crackdown, Florida’s opioid abuse crisis, health care defense attorney, health care professional defense attorney, legal representation for drug diversion, legal representation for health care professionals, legal representation for opioid prescribing, legal representation for over-prescribing pain medication, legal representation for physicians prescribing opioids, pharmacist legal defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, the health law firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews|Comments Off

Two Pharmacists and One Dentist in Central Florida Arrested for Prescribing and Dispensing Prescription Drugs

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

The Lakeland Ledger reports that Polk County Sheriff’s Detectives arrested a dentist and two pharmacists on September 5, 2012, in three unrelated cases dealing with illegally prescribing and dispensing painkillers. The sheriff’s office said the three arrests are part of its efforts to target prescription drug abuse.

To read the entire Lakeland Ledger article, click here.

The Arrest of the Dentist’s Daughter Led to His Investigation and Arrest.

In May 2012, the dentist’s daughter was arrested for allegedly forging more than 500 hydrocodone prescriptions. That arrest led deputies and the Department of Health (DOH) to search the dentist’s clinic. According to the Lakeland Ledger article, out of 43 patient files randomly selected, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:05-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Legal Defense for Pharmacists, Pharmacist, Pharmacy Law, Trafficking Prescription Painkillers|Tags: defense attorney, dentist defense, Department of Health (DOH) Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation, Florida prescription drug abuse, Florida prescription drug crackdown, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) investigation, overprescribing pain medication, prescription drug trafficking. pharmacist defense, prescription drugs, undercover agents|Comments Off

Filling Phony Prescriptions for Pain Killers Lands Orlando Pharmacist Behind Bars

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

Another pharmacist was led away in handcuffs during a September 25, 2012, raid on an Orlando-area pharmacy, according to a number of sources. The pharmacist is accused of filling prescriptions for oxycodone, even though he allegedly knew the prescriptions were not legitimate.

Click here to see video of the arrest from WFTV in Orlando.

Investigation by Narcotics Agents Led to Arrest.

In December 2011, narcotics agents searched the same pharmacy and found 22 prescriptions that were suspected to be fraudulent, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Agents believed the prescriptions were fakes because they apparently matched phony prescriptions found at other local pharmacies. The prescriptions had the same patient names, and the telephone number listed on the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:05-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Legal Defense for Pharmacists, Pain Management, Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|Tags: controlled substances, DEA investigation, Department of Health (DOH), doctor, DOH investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), emergency suspension order, Florida prescription drug abuse, Florida prescription drug crackdown, nurse, overprescribing, pain clinics, pain management, pharmacies, pharmacist, pharmacist license, physician, pill mill, pill mill laws, prescription drug trafficking|Comments Off