Prescription Drug Fraud

In Arkansas, a woman was sentenced to time served of 4 months and 3 days and ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution for her scheme to fraudulently obtain at least 72 prescriptions of narcotic drugs, totaling 9,615 pills. In addition, the woman was ordered to participate in a drug rehabilitation treatment program and to undergo routine drug testing. While employed as the director of nursing for several nursing homes, the woman used her position to obtain residents’ Medicaid numbers to obtain prescriptions for narcotic drugs, including Hydrocodone. The woman called in prescriptions to pharmacies in the names of residents and included maintenance medications on the order in an attempt to mask the narcotic drug. She disposed of the maintenance medications when she picked up the prescription order. As a result of the scheme, many nursing home residents were denied prescriptions since records revealed that the prescriptions had been recently filled.

Physicians and Other Health Care Professionals

An Ohio doctor specializing in pain management, family practice, and emergency medicine was ordered to pay $215,000 in restitution for Medicaid fraud. In addition, $400,000 in cash previously seized was ordered to be forfeited to the Government. Investigation revealed that the doctor billed office visits using codes indicating an extended visit, when he actually only saw patients for a few minutes. He routinely saw over 60 patients in a day but worked less than 6 to 7 hours a day.

Child Support Enforcement

In Indiana, a man was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment, suspended, 3 years probation and ordered to pay his remaining arrearage of $13,000 for failure to pay child support. Investigation revealed that the man left Illinois and began living with his twin brother in Arizona. In Arizona, the man was working for a construction company owned by family members. After learning that the OIG and local authorities had uncovered his current whereabouts, the man returned to Indiana, paid $10,000 toward his arrearage, and pled guilty.