A physician specializing in general medicine and a physician assistant who practiced at a musculoskeletal medicine and pain management practice in Berlin, Connecticut, together with the practice itself, paid a total of $300,000 to resolve allegations that they violated civil provisions of the Controlled Substances Act.
The government alleged that the providers prescribed controlled substances to patients who were exhibiting signs of potential diversion and drug abuse through inconsistent urine drug test results. Such a result occurs when a patient tests positive for unexpected, non-prescribed substances or negative for substances they were prescribed. According to the settlement, between March 23, 2021, and February 14, 2023, the providers issued 43 prescriptions for oxycodone and/or fentanyl to six patients, each after an inconsistent urine test result. The government contended these prescriptions lacked a legitimate medical purpose and were written outside the usual course of professional practice.
On March 10, 2023, both providers voluntarily surrendered their DEA registrations to prescribe controlled substances. As part of the settlement they agreed not to reapply for DEA registration for five years.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA's New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and Office of Diversion Control with assistance from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division. The civil settlement resolved allegations and is not a finding of liability.