Judge Refuses to Dismiss $21 Million Suit against Florida Pharmacy Alleging Illegal Kickback Scheme

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

On February 13, 2019, a federal judge turned down a Florida pharmacy’s motion to dismiss a $21 million False Claims Act (FCA) suit, but allowed its sister company out of the suit. The judge said Z Stat Medical LLC, which operates as Oldsmar Pharmacy and its owner, must face the government’s claims that it engaged in illegal kickback schemes to defraud Tricare. Oldsmar’s sister company, Stat Direct LLC, was dismissed from the lawsuit completely. There was no evidence it was also involved in the alleged misconduct, according to court documents.

The First Alleged Scheme.

The case was originally brought as a result of a whistleblower complaint that alleged two schemes […]

Alaska Board of Pharmacy Sends Letter to its Pharmacists Sending Mixed Signals Over Filling Opioid Prescriptions (Part 1 of a 2 part series)

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

The “Opioid Crisis” in the U.S.

We all know that there is an “opioid crisis” in the U.S. It is probably prevalent in every state. In Florida we have been suffering under it for the past ten to fifteen years. So it is nothing new to Florida. Government regulators including, but not limited to the Florida Department of Health (DOH), Florida Attorney General (AG), different State’s Attorneys’ (prosecutors) offices, multi-jurisdictional task forces, local law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), along with federal prosecutors, have been involved in ongoing efforts in Florida for the past […]

Walgreens Agrees to Pay $269 Million to Settle Two FCA Suits

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

On January 22, 2019, Walgreens agreed to pay more than $269 million to settle allegations of False Claims Act (FCA) violations for overbilling of various drugs. The deals are some of the largest pay-outs ever by a retail pharmacy, according to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).

The Two Settlements.

There were two separate complaints involving Walgreens to settle federal and state lawsuits that accused the pharmacy of overbilling federal healthcare programs. Both were unsealed by U.S. District Court judges in Manhattan, according to the DOJ.

In the first settlement, Walgreens agreed to pay $209.2 million to the U.S. and several state governments for improperly billing Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs. The pharmacy […]

Virginia Doc Lands 40 Years in Prison For Running Multi-state Pill Mill

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On October 2, 2019, a Virginia doctor received a 40-year prison sentence for illegally prescribing more than half a million opioid pills over 19 months. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia handed down the sentence to Joel Smithers, who was reported to have operated a “pill mill” out of Virginia, according to authorities. In addition to prison time, he was given an $86,000 fine and will serve three years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison time, according to court documents.

The sentence is lighter than it could have been. He was facing up to life in prison and a fine of more than $200 million, according to officials at the U.S. Justice Department. Click here to view the court’s […]

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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 her direction, the pharmacy made compounded creams that were made to maximize reimbursement from government and private insurance programs, not for patients needs, according to the plea deal. Click […]

Florida Sues Walgreens, CVS For Alleged Role in Helping Create and Increase Opioid Crisis

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

On November 19, 2018, the state of Florida announced that it is suing pharmacy chains Walgreens and CVS over their role in what it calls “unconscionable efforts to increase and expand the ongoing opioid crisis in Florida.” State Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office announced that it added the two companies to a lawsuit filed in May 2018, against opioid distributors and manufacturers.

The Supply and Demand Problem with Opioids.

The state alleges that the two chains are responsible for overselling addictive opioids, as well as not taking precautionary measures to stop illegal sales, helping to inflate the supply and demand. The companies join Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, as well as several other opioid distributors, as defendants in the lawsuit.

In a news release, Bondi noted that the […]

FDA Releases Draft Guidance to Revamp Drug Indication and Usage Labels

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

On July 6, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidance outlining its recommendations for how drug companies should word the indications and usage sections on a drug’s label. The new guidance aims to increase readability and reduce redundant information on indications and usage.

Drug Indication Label.

Prescribers can expect to see revamped drug labels with clearer descriptions of the conditions and patient populations for which an FDA-approved drug is indicated. Also, described in the guidance are circumstances when it might be appropriate for an indication to be either broader or narrower than the parameters of the clinical studies that backed its approval.

In addition to suggesting what information labels should include, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:24-04:00July 12, 2018|Categories: The Health Law Firm Blog|Tags: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defense attorney, health care compliance lawyer, health law defense attorney, legal representation for health care professionals, legal representation for pharmacies, legal representation for pharmacists, pharmacist defense attorney, pharmacist representation, pharmacy defense lawyer, pharmacy representation, representation for FDA matters, representation for prescribers, reviews of The Health Law Firm attorneys, The Health Law Firm reviews|Comments Off

Safeway Pharmacy Settles Medical Negligence and Wrongful Death Suit Over Woman’s Death

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

On December 5, 2016, a Nebraska magistrate judge signed off on an agreement resolving a widower’s wrongful death suit. The medical negligence suit contends that Safeway pharmacists negligently dispensed methadone and another medication to the plaintiff’s now-dead wife even though using the drugs together is risky, ultimately leading to her death.

Medical Negligence.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas D. Thalken, granted a stipulation of dismissal in Brian Crawford’s litigation alleging that Safeway is liable for his wife’s death. Crawford alleges that Safeway is responsible for his late wife’s death because its pharmacists gave her both methadone and fluconazole, despite the fact that the medications are contraindicated for simultaneous use. Click here to read the order in full.

Brian Crawford, who originally filed suit in April 2014, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:22-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Health Facilities Law Blog|Tags: Colorado Board of Pharmacy defense legal counsel, Colorado pharmacist defense legal counsel, defense attorney for health care professionals, District of Columbia (D.C.) Board of Pharmacy lawyer, District of Columbia (D.C.) pharmacist lawyer, Kentucky Board of Pharmacy defense attorney, Kentucky pharmacist defense attorney, legal representation for medical negligence, legal representation for pharmacies, legal representation for pharmacists, legal representation for wrongful death lawsuits, Louisiana Board of Pharmacy attorney, Louisiana pharmacist attorney, medical negligence defense attorney, Medical negligence lawsuit, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, Virginia Board of Pharmacy defense lawyer, Virginia pharmacist defense lawyer, wrongful death defense lawyer, wrongful death lawsuit|Comments Off

Safeway Pharmacy Settles Medical Negligence and Wrongful Death Suit Over Woman’s Death

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

Medical Negligence.

Brian Crawford, who originally filed suit in […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:27-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacy Law Blog|Tags: Colorado Board of Pharmacy defense legal counsel, Colorado pharmacist defense legal counsel, defense attorney for health care professionals, District of Columbia (D.C.) Board of Pharmacy lawyer, District of Columbia (D.C.) pharmacist lawyer, Kentucky Board of Pharmacy defense attorney, Kentucky pharmacist defense attorney, legal representation for medical negligence, legal representation for pharmacies, legal representation for pharmacists, legal representation for wrongful death lawsuits, Louisiana Board of Pharmacy attorney, Louisiana pharmacist attorney, medical negligence defense attorney, Medical negligence lawsuit, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, Virginia Board of Pharmacy defense lawyer, Virginia pharmacist defense lawyer, wrongful death defense lawyer, wrongful death lawsuit|Comments Off

Finding an Attorney/Lawyer Who Takes Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) Insurance for Pharmacists and Pharmacies

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

We often hear from callers and clients in professional licensing complaints, Department of Health investigations and Board of Pharmacy cases, that they had good insurance coverage with Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) Insurance, but could not find an attorney that would accept it. Often these professionals retain us after action has been taken to appeal or attempt to reverse an adverse disciplinary action taken against their license.

This should not be a difficult task. Our firm and its attorneys have accepted HPSO Insurance for over 25 years.

Our firm has attorneys that are licensed in and can defend pharmacies and pharmacists in Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Additionally, there are many states, such as Tennessee, Georgia, Oregon, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:29-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacy Law Blog|Tags: Board of Pharmacy investigation defense attorney, Florida health law attorney, Florida HPSO health law attorneys, health care professional defense attorney, legal counsel for Board of Pharmacy investigations and hearings, legal represenation for administrative hearings, legal representation for a complaint made for violation of HIPAA or patient privacy, legal representation for cases dealing with HPSO insurance, legal representation for complaints against a professional license, legal representation for medical professionals, legal representation for pharmacies, legal representation for pharmacists, licensure defense attorney, pharmacy and pharmacist defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews|1 Comment