A large eastern Pennsylvania hospital network agreed to pay $2,750,000 to resolve allegations that it did not comply with Controlled Substances Act requirements built to keep controlled substances from being diverted. The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced the resolution. A settlement of this kind resolves allegations; it is not a finding or an admission of liability.
The matter was framed around recordkeeping and handling failures at the registrant level rather than a single clinician's conduct, with the reporting tying it to pharmacy technician misconduct. The allegations covered diversion, improper transfers of controlled substances, and recordkeeping.
The network worked alongside federal prosecutors and the Drug Enforcement Administration to identify potential violations and to develop better practices. The Drug Enforcement Administration's Philadelphia Field Division framed the case as part of ensuring that medical providers and facilities follow established law and procedure when dispensing controlled substances.
According to the announcement, the network spent considerable resources on physical security upgrades, staff training, diversion-detection software, and the hiring of employees and consultants with Controlled Substances Act compliance expertise.