pharmacy | The Health Law Firm Blog

Need Last Minute Deposition or Hearing Representation? Call The Health Law Firm

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

Our office often takes phone calls from pharmacies and pharmacists needing short-notice representation at a Board of Pharmacy hearing or at a deposition related to a health care matter.

In our experience, many other law firms refuse to represent clients at hearings unless the firm is given plenty of advance notice. We always prefer to have sufficient time to obtain documents, review files, interview witnesses, conduct research and prepare, in order to provide the best possible representation to our client. However, we realize that in certain cases, the alternative is that the client either […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:09-04:00October 10, 2019|Pharmacy Law Blog|

Doctors and Nurse Practitioner Arrested in Prescription Drug Abuse Raid

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

A crackdown on prescription drug abuse by New York law enforcement has resulted in the arrests of 98 people. Two doctors and a nurse practitioner were among those charged.

A series of raids were carried out by Brooklyn federal prosecutors, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), district attorney’s offices, and local law enforcement agencies. The raids began June 5, 2012 and resulted in the arrests.

To view the DEA’s press release concerning the raid, click here.

Both Doctors Accused of Overprescribing.

One of the doctors is accused of conspiring […]

Tightened Restrictions Placed on Pain Management Clinics in Seminole County

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

Seminole County, Florida, is the latest county to adopt tightened regulations for pain management clinics. On November 13, 2012, County Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the ordinance enacting Chapter 186 of the Seminole County Code to establish regulations regarding pain management clinics.

Click here to read the entire Seminole County Ordinance.

County Commissioners hope these new regulations will aid law enforcement in fighting illegal pill mill operations in Florida.

Officials Believe Restrictions Will Help Prevent Overprescribing.

The ordinance requires clinics to get a license, produce monthly […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:40-04:00June 1, 2018|In the Know, Pain Management, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Florida Nursing Home Owner Arrested for Alleged $395,000 Medicaid Fraud Scheme

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

A Miami-Dade nursing home owner was arrested for allegedly committing $395,000 worth of Medicaid fraud. The Florida Attorney General (AG) accused the nursing home owner of using the billing names of non-existent businesses to submit fraudulent invoices. The fake invoices were then allegedly paid with Medicaid funds. The nursing home owner was arrested on October 17, 2013, by the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) and the Miami-Dade Police Department.

To read the press release from the AG, click here.

Nursing Home Owner Allegedly Pocketed Medicaid Money.

According to the AG, the nursing home […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:52-04:00June 1, 2018|Medicaid, Medicaid audit, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Walgreens Reaches Settlement in False Claims Act Case

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

Walgreens has reached a $7.9 million settlement with the United States and participating states that resolves allegations that Walgreens violated the False Claims Act. The DOJ announced the settlement on April 20, 2012. To view the DOJ’s press release concerning the settlement with Walgreens, click here. To view the False Claims Act, click here.

Walgreens Allegedly Offered Illegal Inducements to Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries.

The settlement was reached after Walgreens was accused of offering illegal inducements to beneficiaries of government health programs (Medicare, Medicaid, the Federal […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:31-04:00June 1, 2018|Medicaid, Medicare, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Meningitis Cases in Florida Continue to Rise – Doctors Getting Sued

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

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) confirmed another case of fungal meningitis in Florida on November 19, 2012. A 56-year-old man allegedly received a contaminated steroid injection at Florida Pain Clinic in Marion County, Florida. This brings the state’s total number of fungal meningitis cases up to 24, including three deaths.

To read the entire press release from the Florida DOH, click here.

Meningitis Numbers Around the U.S.

As of November 19, 2012, the Florida DOH reported the number of fungal meningitis cases nationwide is up […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:40-04:00June 1, 2018|DEA, In the Know, Pharmacy, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Medical Marijuana Legalized in Connecticut: Will More Problems Develop for Doctors, Pharmacists?

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

The use of marijuana for medical reasons has been legalized in Connecticut. The state’s governor signed into law HB 5389 on May 31, 2012, which allows licensed physicians to certify a patient’s use of marijuana for medical purposes. Connecticut is the 17th state to legalize marijuana for medical use.

To view Connecticut HB 5389, click here.

Medical Marijuana Legislation in Connecticut Imposes Restrictions on Patients.

The new law outlines restrictions to prevent abuse of the substance. Patients and caregivers in Connecticut must register with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. In addition, a doctor must certify there is a medical need […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:31-04:00June 1, 2018|DEA, In the News, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Nationwide Telephone Scam: Phony DEA Agents Extorting Money from Victims

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning the public to be aware of a prescription drug scam. This telephone scheme is extorting money from people all over the country. On November 28, 2012, the DEA released a press release explaining the details of the scam.

Do Not Wire Money to Phony DEA Agents.

The scam starts with criminals posing as DEA agents calling victims by telephone. Frequently the victims will have recently purchased prescription drugs over the internet or by phone. The imposters tell the victims that purchasing the drugs in […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:41-04:00June 1, 2018|DEA, HIPAA, In the News, Pharmaceutical Drugs, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Investors can Continue to Bring Claims Against KV Pharmaceutical

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

The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that investors can continue to bring claims against KV Pharmaceutical Co. (KV) for making false or misleading statements to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ruling was reached on June 4, 2012.

To view the appeals court ruling in Public Pension Fund Group v. KV Pharmaceutical Company, click here.

Appeals Court Ruling Revives Securities Fraud Class Action Lawsuit.

The appeals court has revived a securities fraud class action that was dismissed by a trial court in 2010. […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:32-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, Pharmacy, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Drug Enforcement Administration Releases Details of Investigation into Two CVS Stores in Sanford, Florida

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

In September 2012, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) revoked the controlled substance licenses from two CVS pharmacies in Sanford, Florida. Details into the investigation were made public on October 12, 2012, in a final order released by the DEA.

The order explains how the stores operated, whom they prescribed painkillers such as oxycodone to, and identified Central Florida’s top-prescribing doctors.

To read the final order from the DEA, click here.

I previously wrote about the two Sanford CVS stores losing their controlled substance licenses, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:41-04:00June 1, 2018|DEA, Pharmaceutical Drugs, Pharmacy, The Health Law Firm Blog|