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Florida Man Pleads Guilty To $36.2 Million Telehealth 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 March 20th, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in the Middle District of Florida, announced that a Florida man pled guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud in a $36.2 million telemedicine fraud scheme. As part of the scheme, the Fort Lauderdale-based pharmacy owner paid kickbacks and bribes to telemarketers and telemedicine providers for medically unnecessary prescriptions that were billed to Medicare.

Kickbacks & Bribes to Telemarketing Companies.

According to the plea agreement, the Fort Lauderdale-based, Florida man and his co-conspirators owned and operated pharmacies participating in the Medicare program. From September 2018 through November 2021, they […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-04-08T13:53:56-04:00May 8, 2024|Nursing Law Blog|

Florida Man Pleads Guilty To $36.2 Million Telehealth 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 March 20th, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in the Middle District of Florida, announced that a Florida man pled guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud in a $36.2 million telemedicine fraud scheme. As part of the scheme, the Fort Lauderdale-based pharmacy owner paid kickbacks and bribes to telemarketers and telemedicine providers for medically unnecessary prescriptions that were billed to Medicare.

Kickbacks & Bribes to Telemarketing Companies.

According to the plea agreement, the Fort Lauderdale-based, Florida man and his co-conspirators owned and operated pharmacies participating in the Medicare program. […]

Florida Man Pleads Guilty To $36.2 Million Telehealth 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 March 20th, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in the Middle District of Florida, announced that a Florida man pled guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud in a $36.2 million telemedicine fraud scheme. As part of the scheme, the Fort Lauderdale-based pharmacy owner paid kickbacks and bribes to telemarketers and telemedicine providers for medically unnecessary prescriptions that were billed to Medicare.

Kickbacks & Bribes to Telemarketing Companies.

According to the plea agreement, the Fort Lauderdale-based, Florida man and his co-conspirators owned and operated pharmacies participating in the Medicare program. From September 2018 through November 2021, they […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-04-08T13:33:43-04:00April 8, 2024|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’s New E-Prescribing Law: How It May Affect You and Your Career

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
In 2019, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 831 (2019), Electronic Prescribing, into law. The new bill provides important requirements for prescribers to generate and transmit all prescriptions electronically upon their license renewal or by July 1, 2021, whichever is earlier. The bill will go into effect on January 1, 2020.

Summary of New Law, HB 831.

The new law applies to any health care practitioner who is licensed by law to prescribe a medicinal drug. The law, HB 831 sets forth the following general rule for prescribing:

If you are licensed […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:07-04:00December 9, 2019|Health Facilities Law Blog|

Common Errors We See in Pharmacy Inspections and How to Avoid Them

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law and Carole C. Schriefer, R.N., J.D., The Health Law Firm

Pharmacies and pharmacists are subject to many types of inspections. These inspections are necessary to determine whether the business and its employees are complying with state and federal laws and regulations. Administrative agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health (DOH), have the authority to inspect pharmacies.

Inspections may be routine and simply to confirm compliance with the law. Annual inspections by the Florida DOH are examples of these. However, inspections can also be triggered […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:09-04:00October 8, 2019|Pharmacy Law Blog|

Florida’s Prescription Drug Importation Plan Continues to Gain Support

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

On March 12, 2019, the Florida House of Representatives’ Health Quality Subcommittee voted 15 to 2 to approve House Bill 19 (HB 19) that would implement one of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recently announced health care proposals. In February 2019, the new Florida governor, who was criticized for not having a health care platform while he campaigned, announced the proposal that Florida start importing drugs from Canada.

HB 19 -Prescription Drug Importation Programs.

HB 19 was created for the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:12-04:00August 9, 2019|Mental Health Law Blog|

Florida Governor’s Prescription Foreign Drug Importation Plan Gains House Support

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

On March 12, 2019, the Florida House of Representatives’ Health Quality Subcommittee voted 15 to 2 to approve House Bill 19 (HB 19) that would implement one of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recently announced health care proposals. In February 2019, the new Florida governor, who was criticized for not having a health care platform while he campaigned, announced the proposal that Florida start importing drugs from Canada.

HB 19 -Prescription Drug Importation Programs.

HB 19 was created for the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:16-04:00March 18, 2019|Pharmacy Law Blog|