CURES (California state prescription history database) has been around since 1997 but not many providers took advantage of what it has to offer. Ignoring CURES is ignoring a tool that could shine light on what is really happening with the patient. News are full of stories describing opioid deaths, which could have been easily prevented
DEA and Controlled Substances
Highlights of a recent webinar “Prescription Audits by DEA”
By Natalia Mazina on
Posted in DEA and Controlled Substances
Last week, I was speaking in Strafford live webinar, “Prescription Audits: When the DEA or AG Come Knocking.” Our panel discussed the increased scrutiny of healthcare providers’ prescribing and dispensing practices by the DEA, audit preparation, and enforcement actions.
After the webinar, I received several questions regarding some of the points discussed and…
California’s extended efforts to increase access to Naloxone
By Natalia Mazina on
Posted in DEA and Controlled Substances
In 2015, California permitted pharmacists to furnish Naloxone – the antidote drug for opioid overdose – without a prescription. Pursuant to AB 1535, pharmacists who wish to dispense naloxone must complete a one-hour training and briefly train its customers purchasing naloxone on its use. In addition, the protocol requires pharmacists to screen customers, provide…
Efforts to Curb Opioid Epidemic – New Solutions Affecting Pharmacies
By Natalia Mazina on
Posted in DEA and Controlled Substances
It’s getting harder and harder to fill an opioid prescription. Many pharmacies – particularly chains – are very reluctant to dispense them in the first place. Many require a patient to go through various procedural issues such as signing a lock-in contract. While others are capping the amount of opioids to be dispensed. The latter…
Tips from recent DEA audits and Importance of suspicious order monitoring
By Natalia Mazina on
While the opioid epidemic continues, every provider in the drug supply chain has a duty to identify and report suspicious orders. Retail pharmacies in particular have been hit with a number of settlements in 2017 for failure to report suspicious prescribing. See Related Blog. Surprisingly, many pharmacies still do not have policies and procedures addressing…
Overprescribing and Overdispensing of Controlled Substances continue to be a priority in investigations of healthcare providers.
By Natalia Mazina on
Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the largest ever healthcare fraud enforcement action by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Fraud charges were filed against 115 licensed professionals and payment suspension actions were initiated against 259 providers. DOJ’s announcement.
A particular focus is on medical professionals involved in the excessive prescribing and distribution of…
California agencies can dig through CURES without a justifiable reason.
By Natalia Mazina on
Data accumulated in CURES[1] is available to appropriate state and federal agencies, law enforcement, and regulatory boards for disciplinary, civil, or criminal purposes. But when should CURES be reviewed for such purposes? When a government suspects overprescribing? May it be used against a prescriber or a pharmacist when no controlled substances are involved in the…
DEA’s investigations of pharmacies and wholesalers have increased
By Natalia Mazina on
Posted in DEA and Controlled Substances
The DEA has recently audited several large pharmacies and drug wholesalers finding substantial non-compliance with the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The non-compliance has resulted in large settlements, corrective action plans, and some business restructuring. The examples below concentrate on major pharmacy chains and large wholesalers, however, a number of smaller pharmacies and wholesalers have settled…