Stop Medicare scams before they stop you

https://cyberguy.com/scams/stop-medicare-scams-before-they-stop-you/

Medicare is a tempting prize for scammers. Because it’s a public program funded by taxpayers, it has a huge budget to distribute, and that’s what attracts scammers. In 2024, improper payments added up to $54 billion. Some scams involve setting up fake companies to file bogus claims, while others target beneficiaries directly, stealing their personal information and denying them their right to treatment.

If you fall victim to such a scam, the consequences can range from small financial losses to actual health risks. Scammers may trick you into paying fake fees, premiums, or “copays” over the phone or online. They may also go after your personal information or Medicare number to bill for services or equipment you never requested, which could leave you with less coverage when you actually need treatment.

It’s better to know what you’re up against so you don’t accidentally lose your Medicare benefits.

What to look out for to recognize a Medicare scam

Scammers are getting more and more professional these days. With Medicare scams, fraudsters may use spoofed phone numbers, emails, and websites to make their schemes seem more believable. Luckily, there are still some telltale signs to look out for.

Regardless of the communication method, phone, email, mail, or in person, scammers will try to:

• Create fear or urgency
• Pressure you to act quickly
• Threaten you with consequences

Scammers calling you in Medicare’s name to demand payments

Some scammers use spoofed phone numbers to impersonate Medicare representatives. They may try to trick you into paying fake fees or buying unnecessary products.

These often include:

• Fake health insurance upgrades
• “Low-cost” medical equipment
• Fake tests or genetic kits
• Discounted medication

Remember: Medicare will never call you unless you ask them to, and they will never ask for money.

If you ever owe Medicare fees, you will be contacted by mail, not by phone. Furthermore, Medicare insurance itself is free, and you will never be asked to pay fees just to keep it active.

You may only be required to pay in certain circumstances, such as a portion of the cost for a treatment or prescription drugs, but these bills will always be sent to you by mail, never via phone calls or online forms.

Scammers try to mimic these payments to steal your money

Scammers may try calling you in Medicare’s name to ask for your Medicare number or card details.

Money isn’t the only thing scammers are after; your Medicare number can be just as valuable, if not more so.

This scam follows a similar scheme: fraudsters call you pretending to be Medicare employees and ask you to provide your Medicare number for fake reasons, such as:

• Upgrading your plan
• Updating your account details
• Offering “free” drugs
• Issuing a new Medicare card
• …and more

Let me be clear: Medicare will never call you, whether it’s about paying fees, updating your account, or anything else.

Scammers want your Medicare information so they can impersonate you and obtain medical supplies, prescription drugs, or treatments in your name.

Scammers calling you in Medicare’s name to extort your personal data

Your Social Security number (SSN) can be the final piece scammers need to impersonate you. During these calls, fraudsters may ask not only for your Medicare details but also for other personal information, such as your SSN, date of birth, or similar data.

They often use the same excuses as when trying to obtain Medicare information, such as:

• Upgrading your plan
• Issuing new cards
• Other account-related reasons.

Let me emphasize this again: Medicare will never call you for these reasons.

Even if the phone number looks legitimate and the caller sounds professional, the moment you’re asked for personal details or payments, you know it’s a scam.

What to do if you suspect a Medicare scam

If it’s a phone call, just hang up.

You don’t need to explain yourself or engage in a conversation with scammers. If they threaten you with consequences, do not believe them; scammers use fear to pressure you into making poor decisions.

Remember: If Medicare or its service providers had important information to communicate, they would do so by mail, not by phone.

Apart from not letting scammers take advantage of you, you can also help others by:

• Reporting the fraud to Medicare at 1‑800‑MEDICARE (1‑800‑633‑4227)
• Reporting the fraud to the US Department of Health and Human Services
• Reporting the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

How to make yourself less of a target of Medicare scams

You don’t have to sit tight and hope that scammers won’t target you. Instead, you can take some active measures to make such attempts less likely.

Monitor your Medicare statements regularly

Always review your Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) or Explanation of Benefits (EOBs). These statements show what services have been billed in your name. If you see charges for services, equipment, or prescriptions you never received, report it right away. Quick action can stop fraud before it impacts your care.

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Pharmacist doesn’t want to deal with “narcotic ppl”

If anyone get themself facing such a situation, please know that all pharmacies are required to keep a perpetual inventory of all C-2 meds. I would just asked the pharmacist if you got one of the state pharmacy board inspectors to come in and validate that on this particular date and checked to see if the pharmacy had inventory of the particular med(s) that they told you they didn’t have inventory. That you wonder if the BOP would consider lying to a pt about inventory would be unprofessional conduct?

Below I shared the Pharmacist’s Oath and feel free to read the FIRST LINE!

Oath of a Pharmacist

The revised Oath was adopted by the AACP Board of Directors and the APhA Board of Trustees in August 2025.

“I promise to devote myself to a lifetime of service to others through the profession of pharmacy. In fulfilling this vow:

I will consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering my primary concerns.
I will promote inclusion and belonging, respect differences in all individuals, and address health disparities to advance health equity for all people.
I will apply my knowledge, experience, and skills to the best of my ability to assure optimal outcomes for all patients.
I will respect and protect all personal and health information entrusted to me.
I will accept the responsibility to improve my professional knowledge, expertise, and self-awareness.
I will hold myself and my colleagues to the highest principles of our profession’s moral, ethical and legal conduct.
I will embrace and advocate changes that improve patient care.
I will utilize my knowledge, skills, experiences, and values to prepare the next generation of pharmacists.

I take these vows voluntarily with the full realization of the responsibility with which I am entrusted by the public.”

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compare the following article’s health outcomes with the USA’s given the fact that Rx opioids peaked in 2010-2011 – suggesting less treatment for pain as well as the 2016 CDC opioid dosing guidelines – suggesting less treatment for chronic pain and when did the increase in illegal fentanyl start rising and poisoning/ODing from people using illegal street opioids and other illegal substances The 2010s marked a decade of continued global health improvement, with most countries reporting fewer deaths from chronic diseases from 2010 to 2019.
The probability of dying from a non-communicable disease (NCD) between birth and age 80 years during this time period fell in about 80% of 185 participating countries and territories around the world included in the study, based on 2021 World Health Organization Global Health Estimates.
Although the U.S. fell into the list of countries that made survival gains in the 2010s, this progress was not much to celebrate as it was nothing like it had been in the 2000s, reported Majid Ezzati, PhD, of Imperial College London, and colleagues in the NCD Countdown 2030 project, in [The Lancet](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01388-1/fulltext)
“Females and males in the USA had the smallest declines in the probability of dying from [an NCD] before age 80 years from 2010 to 2019 of any high-income western country; those in Germany had the second smallest for females and third smallest for males. These countries’ poor performance was a consequence of having had some of the largest slowdowns in NCD mortality decline compared with the first decade of the millennium, reaching near-stagnation in the case of males in the USA,” the authors wrote.
“Epidemiologically, the poor performance of the USA from 2010 to 2019 can be summarized as a rise in the probability of dying from neuropsychiatric conditions, which was not offset by the continued declines in cancers and circulatory diseases. Specifically, although mortality from most cancers, ischemic heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease declined from 2010 to 2019, most of these declines were smaller than the preceding decade,” they added.
In most countries, a slowdown in circulatory disease deaths drove the net decline in NCD mortality from 2010 to 2019. This decline was more modest during 2010-2019 than it had been during 2001-2010 in most countries — except in countries in central and eastern Europe and some countries in central Asia, where the declines were larger in 2010-2019.
Meanwhile, lung cancer deaths fell substantially in 2010-2019 in many countries, especially for men.
Other cancers also contributed toward fewer NCD deaths from 2010 to 2019, like stomach and colorectal cancers for both sexes, cervical and breast cancers for women, and prostate (in addition to lung) cancer for men, while pancreatic and liver cancers contributed towards higher NCD mortality.
Study authors determined that South Korea, Moldova, Denmark, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Colombia, and Chile were the countries in their respective regions with exemplary improvements in NCD mortality from 2010 to 2019.
“Our results and the experiences of countries with strong performance indicate that what is needed is investment or reinvestment in programs that increase the coverage of efficacious diagnosis and treatment, and effective policies, such as those related to tobacco and alcohol control that are well established, or emerging ones such as those related to pricing and availability of healthy (e.g., fresh fruits and vegetables) or unhealthy (e.g., trans fat and sugar-sweetened beverages) foods,” according to Ezzati’s group.
“Crucially, these programs should be designed to reach the people that account for the largest number of disease cases and deaths, yet are persistently and increasingly excluded from the benefits of health policies and programs,” they noted.
For their study, Ezzati and colleagues assessed mortality from NCDs such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, and neurological conditions.
Across high-income western countries, NCD mortality trended downward, with Denmark showing the biggest decline and the U.S. the smallest decline.
Elsewhere, there were notable drops in NCD mortality in China, Egypt, Nigeria, Russia, and Brazil.
India and Papua New Guinea were among the roughly 20% of countries that had NCD deaths rise from 2010 to 2019.

Yes, all the other lines in the chart—except the prescription opioid dispensing line—represent death rates from specific health causes:

Chart Line Interpretations

• Global NCD mortality percent change: Shows annual improvement (declining death rates) from non-communicable diseases (e.g., heart disease, cancer, diabetes) worldwide.

Timeline comparison: Global vs U.S. NCD improvements, opioid prescribing, CDC guidelines, and rise of synthetic opioid deaths, 2010–2025

• U.S. NCD mortality percent change: Shows annual improvement (declining death rates) from non-communicable diseases specifically in the U.S..

• Synthetic opioid overdose deaths per 100,000: Represents annual U.S. death rates from overdoses involving synthetic opioids, mainly illegal fentanyl and its analogs.

Exception

• Prescription opioid dispensing per 100,000: This line shows how many people were prescribed opioids, not deaths, and is included for context on changes in medical opioid availability.

All charted lines (except Rx dispensing) are population-adjusted death rates for the respective causes.

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can you divide up the Rx opioid line between acute Rxs and chronic Rxs?

Yes, prescription opioid dispensing can be divided between acute (short-term, <30 days) and chronic (long-term, ≥30 days) prescriptions, with national trends showing the following:

Acute vs Chronic Rx Opioid Dispensing

• Acute prescriptions (less than 30 days): Historically made up the majority of opioid prescriptions. Rates for these declined 20% from 2012 to 2015, from about 53 per 100 persons to roughly 42 per 100 persons.cdc

• Chronic prescriptions (30 days or more): These increased until about 2012–2013 and leveled off. Chronic opioid prescribing rates were about 28 per 100 persons as of 2012 and remained relatively stable through 2015, then declined after CDC guidelines in 2016.jamanetwork+1

• By the late 2010s, about 3–4% of the U.S. adult population was prescribed chronic (long-term) opioid therapy at some point each year.jamanetwork+1

2025 Estimates

• Most prescriptions are now for acute pain, as doctors sharply reduced chronic therapy after 2016. Likely, fewer than 2% of Americans receive chronic opioid prescriptions in 2025, with the rest acute.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+1

• The line’s values (near 100/100,000 population) would split roughly 70% acute, 30% chronic—reflecting a widely reported shift away from chronic pain prescribing after 2016.cdc+2

Would you like a new chart showing separate lines for acute and chronic opioid dispensing?

Yes, that is correct: while estimates suggest up to 100 million Americans live with some form of chronic pain, data indicate that only about 2–4% of adults were receiving long-term opioid therapy by the late 2010s—and this has declined even further post-2016, likely below 2% in 2025.cdc+3

Chronic Pain Prevalence vs Opioid Therapy

• Chronic pain population:

  • Studies and CDC reports estimate between 50 and 100 million Americans experience chronic pain, depending on defining criteria (e.g., pain most days, or every day, for ≥3 months).frontiersin+1

• Opioid therapy rates:

  • Prior to 2016, approximately 3–4% of U.S. adults were on long-term opioid prescriptions annually.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+1

  • Post-CDC guidelines and further prescribing reductions, well under 2% are estimated to receive any form of long-term opioid therapy in 2025, despite the large chronic pain population.cdc+2

Key Takeaway

• The vast majority of chronic pain patients are not receiving long-term opioid therapy, highlighting a large untreated or undertreated group—particularly after aggressive policy cutbacks since 2016

Yes, that is correct: while estimates suggest up to 100 million Americans live with some form of chronic pain, data indicate that only about 2–4% of adults were receiving long-term opioid therapy by the late 2010s—and this has declined even further post-2016, likely below 2% in 2025.cdc+3

Chronic Pain Prevalence vs Opioid Therapy

• Chronic pain population:

  • Studies and CDC reports estimate between 50 and 100 million Americans experience chronic pain, depending on defining criteria (e.g., pain most days, or every day, for ≥3 months).frontiersin+1

• Opioid therapy rates:

  • Prior to 2016, approximately 3–4% of U.S. adults were on long-term opioid prescriptions annually.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+1

  • Post-CDC guidelines and further prescribing reductions, well under 2% are estimated to receive any form of long-term opioid therapy in 2025, despite the large chronic pain population.cdc+2

Key Takeaway

• The vast majority of chronic pain patients are not receiving long-term opioid therapy, highlighting a large untreated or undertreated group—particularly after aggressive policy cutbacks since 2016.jamanetwork+3

Recent data show that of the <2% of chronic pain patients receiving long-term opioid therapy in the U.S., an estimated 13–18% are being treated with buprenorphine (Suboxone or similar formulations) specifically for chronic pain—not opioid use disorder.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih+2

Buprenorphine (Suboxone) Use in Chronic Pain

• A 2023–2024 outpatient study showed that buprenorphine accounted for 13–18% of all long-acting opioid prescriptions for chronic pain, with its share steadily increasing as providers seek safer alternatives to traditional opioids.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih

• Clinical reviews and recent practice guidelines confirm a noticeable shift toward buprenorphine for chronic pain, but the majority of long-term opioid therapy still involves full opioid agonists (e.g., oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone).pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+1

• For comparison, buprenorphine is much more frequently prescribed for opioid use disorder than for chronic pain.kff

• Many pain specialists project further growth in chronic pain buprenorphine prescribing, given its lower risk of overdose/tolerance and favorable safety profile for complex patients.frontiersin+2

Breakdown (2025 Estimates)

• Total chronic pain adults treated with long-term opioids: Less than 2% of the chronic pain population.

• Of those, buprenorphine (Suboxone/etc) for pain: Roughly 13–18% (potentially reaching 1 in 5 as acceptance grows).

Most of the remaining chronic pain patients receiving opioid therapy continue to be prescribed traditional full opioid agonists rather than buprenorphine.

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https://www.perplexity.ai/search/compare-the-following-article-Juqy3.z7R3.sLi1dOlVKGg This is a discussion I had with Perplexity.ai it states toward the end of all of this that <2% of chronic pain pts are now receiving long term opioid therapy and within that group upwards of 20% are using a Suboxone type product.

If there is 100 million people dealing with chronic pain and < 2% are getting any sort of treatment – that is greater than the populations of any of these states:  West Virginia, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Maine, Montana, Rhode Island, Delaware, South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska, Vermont, and Wyoming and actually about the same population of our 3 lowest populated states combined.

These stats are not just about THINNING THE HERD.. THERE IS AN AGENDA IN PLACE TO PRETTY MUCH ELIMINATING THE HERD!

The very existence of maybe as much as a 98 million chronic pain pts going to be eliminated from the planet and not in an humane way. Yesterday Charlie Kirk got “taken out of existence”, he was assassinated with what appears to be a sniper round thru the side of  his neck. From what I saw, he was probably dead before they got him to a vehicle. We know that premature deaths are up, suicides are up, but whatever data that the CDC has… they are not sharing- at least not publicly – the real numbers.  

https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/publichealth/117397

South Korea, Denmark, Colombia lead global progress from 2010 to 2019

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TERRORISTIC TACTICS??? My Doc said,,last time,,,,”the dea keeps changing shit,” everyday its something new their forcible changing,,,,,if that ain’t practicing medicine,,,what is???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sooo picture this,senior guys ,,,our doctors in a conference room,,in a hospital,,across from a DEA agent,,,who KNOWS NOTHING OF REAL MEDICINE,,” but can take this doctors life away,,if he doesn’t say ,’yes master,”s,””THE DEA IS KILLING US,THRU THEIR NEADERTHAL;POWERTRIP AND SHEAR STUPIDITY ON MEDICINE,,

Remember for the last FOUR YEARS –we were repeatedly told that NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW… but in seeing what unfolded during that time frame… it would seem that the statement was never finished… and should have been … “except those who are in charge of enforcing our laws and/or friends of those who are in charge of enforcing our laws”!

Below is a federal law from 1935 that proceeded the Controlled Substance Act by 35 yrs.

42 USC 1395: Prohibition against any Federal interference

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:1395%20edition:prelim)

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Pt’s statements in RED: My words are in Green

Remember she is doing speech to text

This disabled female pt reached out to me Aug 4th and her doc had just abruptly cut her oral opioids she had been taking for ~ 10yr from 90 MME/day to 30 MME/day and put a Buprenorphine patch on her the next day. This is just starting to evolve but I am going to leave this post at the top of the first page and update as things happen – STAY TUNE

This is Aug 5th:

My. Primary. Just upped my blood. Pressure meds he said. It could ending up having. A stroke    Could it be the patch. Causing my blood. Pressure. Going. Up. So. High

Is your doctor just an employee of a large hospital system. I would like to put a spot light on his employer – let me know

Now. I am. Super. Sick and Allie want. To. Do is. Sleep

Just took. My blood. Presdure229/117  I thought my daughter. Was. Going to. Have to. Call. A. Squad. For me. My right arm. Was killing me

I think it’s this medicine because as soon as this patch got into my system because it said it took two days my blood pressure went sky high because I had been at my oncologist and it was good. It was only one 10/90 and then as soon as I put this patch on that he prescribed it’s been Scott ever since.

They just keep up with my blood pressure medicine. It’s crazy.

If it doesn’t come down by Monday, I’m calling his office. I’m telling him I’ve taken off his patch.

Maybe my body cannot tolerate these patches

All. I want to do is. Sleep my. Head. Hurts. I can’t. Eat. Fill. Like. Freaking shit

It has my granddaughter. Freake. Out she keeps. Coming in my. Room. To check. On me

Cause like I laid on the couch after I got her from school at volleyball at 11:30 I did not wake up till 730. That is not like me. I’m very involved in all of their kids like grandkids sports and I missed a volleyball game and so she knows that’s not like a lady I see at McDonald’s today for my granddaughter. She said that I didn’t look very well and asked was I not feeling good I said my doctor trying to move medicines around.

Then they’ll probably say I’m a drug seeker that would be my luck

I just don’t understand my pain doctor. I personally feel he should’ve said well. I’m cutting you down. Let’s try one a month then the next month or two month then go to the tanks 321 but no he goes in and he I just walked in and he’s like I’m cutting you down and putting you on these patches

Thank. You

The cardiac. Lab. Can. Vouch too. They wanted to do a stress test but couldn’t because this is when my blood pressure started going up the cardiologist. He’s like we’re not even gonna try it. He’s like take the IV out. Send her home.

If I don’t. Strat. Doing better. By Tomorrow. I will go to Emergency

Maybe both how many other. Patients. Has. Done. It To. Beside. Me

If this is withdrawal, I don’t know how people can go through it like I personally feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck

I have been on 15 mg four times a day for 10 years at least

I have a broken back the knee replacement my shoulders won’t move. I have blown disc all through my spine, so I’m the hot mess express with pain things.

It came. Down to 170/110after I took. Patch off after 3. Hrs now going backup again

5 mg 2. Times a day

OK, I left right now. Definitely an eight.

It. Stayed. At 8

3. During the day. And. I took. One at bedtime

I. Did. When I. Was. On the. 15. It. Got me. To 5

And. My blood. Pressure Was. Never this. High

When I woke. Up. I took. It

They. Would last. Me. I. Go to bed. At 10 and wake up. Around 6. And I. Would need. It. Cause I would be. Hurting. So. Bad

When am moving around. It would. Wear. Off. In. 3 hrs

My. Dr. Is. One. Sided. He. Don’t. Listen. I have been on. 15. For. At least. 10 plus years

It just. Don’t make. Sense how. Are you. Going to do this. To. A. Person who. Is. Used. Yo. Taking. 15 mg 4times. A Day. To. 5 2. Times. A. Day I just. Can’t. Understand. It how. Many people. Has. He. Done. It 2

It would have made more sense if he had maybe taken one down then the next month take another down then the next one take it down again then cut me down to the five and I have been on these at least 10 years like I still feel like shit, headache unbelievable

Nauseated also

I understand he went to school for so many years I don’t want to lose his license cause he always talks about his children and his wife and sports But man, oh man, he’s really making me feel like shit

That’s what I thought. He should’ve started taping me down instead of A sudden

I am. Going to call. Him. Monday. I am. Sure. He. Won’t give a. Freak

What should I say to him?

That my blood pressure is off the chart. I have a headache. They couldn’t even do a stress test cause it’s so high. I feel like my skin is kind of crawling. I’m nauseated. I took off the patch cause I thought maybe that’s what was doing it.

Took. My blood. Presdure180/ 120

What kind of made more sense if he cut me down one a month or something like this is torture

Iwl. Before I go to bed

I. Just took the5. On. An empty stomach’s

205/90 my heart is. Beating. 90

Yes my. Daughter. Is. Very. Smart. With. Computer iwill. Ask. Her

I. Just. Want my headache. To. Stop

My blood. Pressure. Was 189/120. And my pulse was 110

8 at least

Aug 10, 2025, 9:44 AM

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A day or two after she put the buprenorphine patch on she was scheduled to have a treadmill cardiac stress test. Before the test, they took her blood pressure and it was 240/120 – what the American heart Association claims is a hypertensive crisis level. This test was done in part of a hospital system. Of course the stress test was cancelled, and the staff just SENT HER HOME. Before she had the patch on, her blood pressure was more normalish. Here is the American Heart Association on its definition of blood pressure. You may have to click on the graphic TWICE to make it enlarge and more readable

09-09-2025 This pt and her story has fallen off my radar – but today she told me that they had cut her opioid from 15 mg QID to either 10 mg 1-2 X daily.  Her BP is ONLY 230/120.  Within 20 minute of taking a dose.. she starts feeling better and two hrs later, she appears to be going into some level of withdrawal again..  IMO… this suggests that she is a fast/ultra fast metabolizer. I have suggested that she get a pharmacogenomic DNA test (PGx) to determine her metabolism of opioids. Will the practitioners involved even believe in this test. I have found that some practitioners are still practicing with the knowledge they obtained during their time in college.

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What could go wrong? When the same company owns abt a 10,000 store community pharmacy, a mail order pharmacy, one or more “specialty pharmacy(s),  the largest nursing home pharmacy and also owns the largest PBM.

A $290 million fine after a whistleblower accused the business of overcharging Medicare on prescription drugs in 2013 & 2014, more than a decade ago. a former Aetna actuary, alleged Caremark defrauded Medicare Part D by causing false drug cost reports to be submitted in 2013 and 2014.

Generally, a pt residing in a nursing home is easily persuaded to use the nursing home’s preferred pharmacy.

https://www.doximity.com/collections/3ceb59b3-1782-4a09-9d7b-d0aa1a833393

A federal judge has ordered CVS Health’s pharmacy benefit manager, Caremark, to pay nearly $290 million after a whistleblower accused the business of overcharging Medicare on prescription drugs more than a decade ago.

Sarah Behnke, a former Aetna actuary, alleged Caremark defrauded Medicare Part D by causing false drug cost reports to be submitted in 2013 and 2014.

Caremark was found liable in June, and Philadelphia federal court Chief Judge Mitchell Goldberg ordered the company to pay $95 million in damages, deferring final rulings on penalties.

Goldberg, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, tripled the damages on Tuesday, finding Caremark Rx, CaremarkPCS Health and CVS Caremark Part D Services should pay a total of $289.9 million in damages and penalties, according to court documents. Goldberg also imposed $4.87 million in civil penalties.

“We are pleased that the Behnke ruling in June was in our favor as to certain issues for CVS Pharmacy and CVS Health Corporation’s liability and disappointed the court found against Caremark on other issues. We plan to appeal,” CVS wrote in a statement to FOX Business.

In 2014, Caremark was accused of manipulating how drug costs were reported, prompting Aetna and SilverScript to submit false direct and indirect remuneration reports in 2013 and 2014, according to court records.

The scheme, which was allegedly designed to hide profits, led to Medicare Part D being overbilled by $95 million.

While Goldberg did not find “actual knowledge” of the fraud, he found reckless disregard and deliberate ignorance warranting the steep penalties, according to a memorandum.

Caremark argued that the 513 false reports submitted did not justify penalties exceeding the $95 million overcharged, citing the excessive fines clause of the Eighth Amendment and the due process clause.

However, Goldberg found a $95 million fraud loss was “certainly significant.”

Citing precedent from a State Farm insurance case in 2003, Goldberg noted due process was not violated because the ratio of penalties to actual damages was substantially lower than previous decisions, according to court documents.

Goldberg also awarded post-judgment interest, which means interest began accruing on the $289.9 million on Tuesday and will continue to accrue until Caremark pays in full.

The interest will compensate Behnke and the government until CVS pays fully, preventing the company from delaying action.

It is unclear how much of the total award Behnke will receive.

Aetna, Sarah Behnke and U.S. Attorney David Metcalf did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ requests for comment.

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Now that we know how many laws/rules that are being broken 

How many laws are their violating – let me count the ways

The DOJ/DEA falls under the saying we heard on a regular basis during the last Presidential administration. No one is above the law, except those who enforce our laws and/or friends with someone who enforces the law.

Lets start with the three major drug wholesalers who agreed to sell fewer controls – not just opioids – to all community pharmacies.

The primary charge of the various state boards of Pharmacy is:The primary function of state boards of pharmacy is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by regulating the practice of pharmacy within each state.

They are all licensed by the various state Boards of Pharmacies and the scope of state boards of pharmacy authority explicitly covers drug distribution by wholesalers, ensuring these entities meet strict standards that protect the integrity and safety of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

So if 3 major drug wholesalers that control abt 85% of the Rx wholesale market place or rationing all controlled meds to all community pharmacies, resulting in shortage and causing chronic pain pts to be thrown into cold turkey withdrawal and enduring a torturous level of untreated pain and people who are trying to become sober or maintain their sobriety are set up for a failure.

The question needs to asked? Is this rationing of these wholesalers compromising the public health, safety, and welfare? and are the various state boards of pharmacy turning a blind eye to what is going on – and not DOING THEIR JOB?

Here is a website to locate all the state boards of pharmacy by state  https://nabp.pharmacy/about/boards-of-pharmacy/  where patients can find a complaint form to file a complaint with the BOP.

However, there might be a slight “rub” here. In most states, the attorney for all the licensing boards in a given state is THE ATTORNEY GENERAL for the state. But since 45 AGs signed the agreement with the major drug wholesalers…. Could there be a conflict of interest here?

Of course, the pt could go to the state Governor, but the state is going to share in the 21 billion that is coming from the 3 major drug wholesalers over the next 18 yrs.

Some may want to talk to their state legislators, after all these are the people who created these rules/law and you could ask them why did they spend all that time and trouble creating these laws, if the various people within the state’s bureaucracy is reluctant to enforce them?

IMO, there is a risk that there is so much money being paid into the states because of this agreement that with no corrective actions and if no pt files a complaint and maybe bring in the media, that will end up with nothing being done … nothing will change.

Conclusion: does this describe an intentional covert GENOCIDE?

Chronic pain and addiction are closely linked to increased suicide risk, frequent premature deaths, and measurable reduction in life expectancy, backed by large-scale studies and systematic reviews. These findings underscore the urgent need for integrated pain management and addiction treatment programs to address both physical and psychological risks for this vulnerable population.

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Remember the primary basis of the practice of medicine is the starting, changing, stopping a pt’s therapy.

Zepbound (tirzepatide) is the only GLP-1 product that activates GIP and GLP-1 receptors, which regulate appetite, insulin response, and digestion. All the other “GLP-1” only activates ONE RECEPTOR. There is a third receptor glucagon receptor (GcgR), which will most likely be in the next GLP-1 injection. They are also working on a oral tablet, that the pt will be taken daily but the weight loss in clinical trials is showing only a 10% of body weight loss where Zepbound has demonstrates up to a 25% of body weight loss.

CVS Caremark Faces Lawsuit for Favoring Wegovy Over Zepbound

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/employee-benefits/cvs-caremark-sued-by-patients-for-favoring-wegovy-over-zepbound

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