DEA busts Maryland Pill Mill

Federal prosecutors recently indicted the owner and two employees of a Maryland pain management clinic, alleging it is a “pill mill.” The DEA heavily targets these so-called “pill mills,” defined as any “health care provider’s office, clinic, or health care facility that routinely prescribes and dispenses controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.” In this case, the government charges that defendants illegally prescribed and dispensed oxycodone. That is, they did it outside the scope of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.

To support these charges, the indictment relies on evidence that:

• clinic owner prescribed oxycodone without a license;
• oxycodone was prescribed to no-show patients;
• clinic employees conducted cursory medical examinations;
• medical records did not corroborate medical need for oxycodone;
• clinic employees increased patient dosages without medical justification; and
• employees falsified urine drug test results for patients receiving oxycodone prescriptions.

Much of the evidence was obtained by undercover agents posing as patients. If proven, these acts are serious violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Severe penalties follow for anyone that violates these laws.