McKesson settles investigation on controlled substances

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/30/mckesson-doj-idUSL4N0XR7UG20150430

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Express Scripts unit to pay $60 mln over Novartis kickbacks, US says

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/01/express-scr-lawsuit-settlement-idUSL1N0XS0PJ20150501

(Reuters) – U.S. authorities said on Friday that a unit of Express Scripts Holding Co will pay $60 million to resolve claims that it participated in a kickback scheme with Novartis AG to boost sales of a drug that led to improper government reimbursements.

Specialty pharmacy Accredo Health Group Inc has agreed to pay $45.1 million to the federal government and $14.9 million to a group of states as part of the accord, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement.

Accredo has also agreed to cooperate with authorities in pursuing claims against Novartis, who Bharara said engaged in a “scheme that used the lure of kickbacks to co-opt a healthcare provider’s independence.”

The government claimed Novartis unlawfully offered patient referrals to Accredo from 2008 to 2012 in return for recommending patient refills of Exjade, which is intended to reduce excess iron in patients who receive blood transfusions.

Bharara’s office said the scheme violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute.

As part of the settlement, Accredo made several admissions, which Bharara’s office in court papers said it hoped to use to expand the case against Novartis.

Express Scripts said a settlement “was the best possible solution.”

Novartis said it continued to dispute the allegations and will continue to defend itself.

Representatives for Bharara’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

In 2013 the government sued Novartis for allegedly providing discounts and rebates from 2005 to 2013 to induce at least 20 pharmacies to switch thousands of patients to Myfortic, an immunosuppressant.

The Justice Department also said that Novartis offered patient referrals and rebates to pharmacy BioScrip Inc to recommend refills of Exjade from 2007 to 2012.

The government said Medicare, the program for the elderly and disabled, and Medicaid, the low-income insurance program, improperly paid tens of millions of dollars of improper reimbursements. Eleven U.S. states are co-plaintiffs.

BioScrip settled for $11.7 million in January 2014.

The lawsuit stemmed from a whistleblower case by David Kester, a former Novartis respiratory account manager from Raleigh, North Carolina. He is also pursuing separate claims against Novartis and other companies regarding other drugs.

Bharara’s office is continuing a separate lawsuit against Novartis, claiming Medicare and Medicaid paid reimbursements based on kickback-tainted claims for drugs such as Lotrel, Valturna and Starlix.

The case is U.S. v. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 11-08196.

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3 get life in prison without parole in slaying of Chester Rite Aid manager during holdup

http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20150501/3-get-life-in-prison-without-parole-in-slaying-of-chester-rite-aid-manager-during-holdup

MEDIA COURTHOUSE >> Three Philadelphians convicted of murder in the September 2013 shooting death of Jason Scott McClay inside a Chester Rite Aid were sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Tariq Mahmud, 25, and David Wiggins, 26, were each found guilty of second-degree murder following a trial before Judge George Pagano earlier this year, while Rita Pultro, who pulled the trigger on the handgun that ended McClay’s life, was convicted of first-degree murder.

All of the defendants also were convicted on conspiracy and robbery charges, and Wiggins and Pultro were additionally found guilty of firearms not to be carried without a license.

McClay, 40, of Marple, was a Haverford High School graduate and a U.S. Navy veteran who was working at the store at Ninth Street and Highland Avenue on the night of Sept. 19, 2013.

He was fatally shot during a scuffle with Pultro after he learned she and Wiggins intended to rob the store. Wiggins and Pultro fled to a waiting vehicle driven by Christopher Parks, 25. Mahmud, a four-year Rite Aid employee who worked with McClay, helped coordinate the robbery, as well as several others Parks and his 21-year-old cousin Ashaniere White had participated in.

Parks and White, who had pleaded to charges of robbery and murder in the third degree prior to trial and testified against the other defendants, were each sentenced last week to 15 to 50 years in a state correctional facility. They also were sentenced to seven to 14 years each under separate cases for prior robberies that occurred at the same location. Judge Pagano ran White’s sentence under those robberies concurrently, but gave Parks consecutive time, for an aggregate 22 to 64 years. Neither defendant is eligible for early release.

Each of the first- and second-degree murder convictions carries a statutory sentence of life without parole. Much of Friday’s hearing dealt with whether the defendants should be given consecutive sentences on the additional charges.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher DiRosato argued that each of the defendants should be given consecutive sentences for their varying levels of complicity in McClay’s murder: Mahmud as the mastermind; Wiggins as an actor and the supplier of the fatal weapon; and Pultro as the one who pulled the trigger.

Eugene Tinari, representing Mahmud, argued that this case – heinous as it was – did not rise to the same level as a kidnap or torture that would require a consecutive sentence. Pultro’s attorney, William Patrick Wismer, read the guidelines for pardon and commutation into the record, and Debra Denise Rainey, representing Wiggins, noted her client had owned up to his involvement from the start.

Judge Pagano said he had no problem putting on the record that he did not think any of the defendants should be free again, though he noted that is not his decision to make. In the end, only Pultro received a consecutive sentence of 10 to 20 years for conspiracy. She was also given a consecutive sentence of three and a half to seven years for a probation violation.

Wiggins told McClay’s numerous friends and family members gathered in the courtroom that the victim will always be in his prayers, while Mahmud said he hopes their journey on the road to recovery is made easier.

Pultro did not speak. McClay’s mother, Margie Reiley, said after the hearing that she had not expected her to.

“I just don’t think it’s in her nature,” she said.

Reiley read the same statement she had given at sentencing for Parks and White, which described her son as a kind, gentle and generous man with a contagious laugh and tremendous sense of humor that allowed him to envision life from a lighter side.

McClay’s sister, father, grandfather, step-father and uncle echoed those sentiments in their statements, describing a man whose sole purpose on Earth seemed to be encouraging, helping and mentoring others.

“He was the glue which held our blended families together and his death has left a hole in all of our hearts,” said Reiley. “It’s hard for me to watch my children and (his father) Bruce’s children deal with such a tremendous loss, especially when I have always tried to encourage them to look for the best in all human beings. I still believe in those values, although this tremendous loss is, at times, too much to bear.”

McClay’s grandfather, Robert Davis, addressed his remarks to Mahmud, who he viewed as the person who set all of the events leading up to his grandson’s death into motion.

“It’s because of you that we are here today,” he said. “You not only ruined your life, but also the lives of your so-called friends. A group of five – all in their 20s – will be spending the best years of their lives in prison, because of you. Jason was a very well-liked person, one who was an asset to humanity. …I can’t forgive you for what you did – not now, anyway – but I hope in the near future that I will be (able to).”

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McGreevey speaks about drug epidemic in N.J. jails

If law enforcement can’t control substance abuse within a prison system.. what makes them believe that they can do any better in the general population ?

http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/crime/morris-county/2015/04/30/mcgreevey-speaks-drug-epidemic-nj-jails/26658473/

MORRISTOWN – Doctors, law enforcement, and former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey gathered at the Morris County Correctional Facility Thursday morning to discuss the growing epidemic of opiate abuse within the state’s prison system.

The “Do No Harm” symposium was the first of its kind in New Jersey, and gave the dozens of attendees an opportunity to learn about the epidemic of prescription drug and heroin abuse in correctional facilities and across the state.

Hosted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the Morris County Prevention is Key organizaton, and the state Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the title of the event, “Do No Harm,” refers to the phrase commonly associated with the Hippocratic oath doctors take to help patients.

“But point is, there is harm,” McGreevey said. “Physicians, pharmacists, the culture is being harmed by this epidemic. And it requires medical and law enforcement to place healthcare interests before all else.”

McGreevey, the director of the Jersey City Employment and Training Program, was the keynote speaker.

Angelo Valente, executive director of Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, called upon the experts in the room — both in the medical and law enforcement fields — to come up with a solution to the drug problem in the state’s jails.

“The opioid abuse problem is a plague currently threatening our communities locally and nationally,” said Carl Kotowski, special agent in charge of the state DEA. “There needs to be cooperation among law enforcement, prevention organizations, physicians, and pharmacists to help tackle this issue.”

Phil Streicher of state DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad laid out some sobering facts for attendees.

More than 6,000 people have died from an overdose in the state since 2004, he said, and more teens are dying from drug overdoses in New Jersey than car accidents.

Streicher said his team of about 15 agents are responsible for policing more than 46,000 state DEA registrants.

“We go after the dirty doctors, dirty pharmaceuticals,” Streicher said. “The doctors and physicians in here, in this state, have sworn an oath. And the ones who are dirty to me are worse than a street corner dealer. Shame on them. Just a drug dealer wearing a white coat.”

Physicians weren’t afraid to ask questions of the speakers, including what to do if a patient comes to them expecting a prescription.

“Three easy words,” Streicher said. “‘You are discharged.'”

McGreevey echoed the sentiment, stating prescription drugs are given out too frequently, can be highly addictive and can sit in medicine cabinets where others can access them.

“We lived without prescription drugs for hundreds of years,” he said. “You don’t need Vicodin for a toothache.”

McGreevey actively engaged with the physicians and stressed their importance in stopping what he said is an epidemic.

“We’re in the midst of an American crisis,” he said. “Black, white, Hispanic — this is an American issue. I can’t underscore that enough.”

McGreevey called for a national network rather than enforcing regulations state by state, and for physicians reporting on prescriptions to keep better track.

“I have a great respect for physicians,” McGreevey said. “Medicine is a precious good but we need responsible production and administration.”

McGreevey shared stories of families affected by drug abuse first hand and talked about his recent meetings with parents who had lost children to overdoses.

“These were good parents,” McGreevey said. “Kids will always make a large percentage of lousy decisions. It’s up to adults to make those decisions for them.”

Sindy Paul, medical director for the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners, and Donald Reeves, clinical assistant professor at Rutgers Medical School, also spoke about misuse of prescription drugs and drug abuse in prison respectively.

After the symposium ended, Morris County Sheriff Ed Rochford led physicians on a full tour of the facility, crediting his officers at the jail for working the “toughest beat in law enforcement” and doing an outstanding job.

“One measure of success in the rate of recidivism” Rochford said. “If we can assist in an inmate’s ability to give their life a positive direction, it is better for the whole community.”

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Ohio Sees Record High Heroin Overdose Deaths

http://www.wtrf.com/story/28943697/ohio-sees-record-high-heroin-overdose-deaths

This is the second press release in a couple of days where I have noticed that the term “accidental drug overdose” seems to have been removed the media’s “talking points”… must have been a memo sent out… and not to the general public. It has always been suspect that all the reported “accidental drugs overdoses” were not really accidental but suicides.  Now however, with “drug related deaths” being the descriptive phrase.. will the number of deaths counted and publicized as part of the war on drugs being going up because “related” can be such a far reaching criteria to determine that a death is opiate related.  Lately in the news the “questionable” activities of the DEA over the past decade + has put the DEA’s need to exist and purpose in question. Is this how they are going to try to reenforce with Congress their need to exist and continued to receive increased funding ?

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The state Department of Health says once again a record number of Ohioans died from heroin-related overdoses in 2013 as it released the newest available figures for a problem that’s been called an epidemic and a public health crisis.

The state said Thursday that 983 people died of heroin-related overdoses in 2013, up from 697 deaths in 2012.

The heroin increase also drove the overall number of fatal drug overdoses to 2,110 deaths in 2013, up from 1,914 the previous year.

The state says prescription painkiller-related deaths also rose, to 726 in 2013 from 680 the previous year.

Fatal drug overdoses remain the leading cause of accidental death in Ohio, above car crashes, a trend that began in 2007.

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State: More Than 1,000 Died Of Opioid-Related Overdoses In 2014

http://www.wbur.org/2015/04/28/state-2014-overdose-deaths

More than 1,000 people in Massachusetts died of opioid-related overdoses last year, according to an estimate made public by state health officials on Tuesday. That’s a 33 percent jump over 2012 figures.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health says there were 600 confirmed opioid-related deaths in 2014, with an additional 408 overdose deaths estimated. (The department estimates the cause of death for cases not yet certified by the Office of the Medical Examiner.)

“The number of cases of unintentional overdose in 2014 represents a 33% increase over 2012 and a 3.3% increase over 2013,” the health department said in its data brief. There were 668 confirmed opioid-related deaths in 2012, and 888 last year — with an additional 79 estimated.

The state figures were first released in a Boston Globe op-ed by Gov. Charlie Baker, state Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell.

In the op-ed, the trio presented a “united front in the opioid battle” and said the “prescription opioid and heroin epidemic requires coordinated and comprehensive action from federal, state, and local leaders.”

The three leaders met in Boston Tuesday to discuss the issue.

The spike in opioid-related deaths can be viewed another way: In 2012, the state saw 10.1 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 residents; by the next year, that rate had jumped to 14.5 deaths per 100,000 residents.

The DPH data brief also broke down deaths by county. In 2014, Middlesex County had the most unintentional opioid overdose deaths, with an estimated 212, followed by Essex (146), Bristol (117) and Worcester (113) counties. Nantucket County had the fewest last year, with one death.

State police have said there were 217 suspected heroin overdoses in Massachusetts through the first three months of 2015, though that estimate does not include Boston, Worcester and Springfield.

At a press briefing Tuesday, Baker said four out of five heroin addicts began their opiate use with pain medications, many legally prescribed.

“While these are very important medications, and they do very important things — especially for people who are managing chronic pain, who have cancer and other illnesses like that — there are really significant issues associated with this,” he said.

A task force Baker created in February to combat prescription drug abuse is expected to release its recommendations in May.

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MyFoxAL.com – FOX6 WBRC Birmingham, AL

DEA agent says Alabamians should be outraged by deaths from drug overdoses

http://www.myfoxal.com/story/28934056/dea-agent-says-alabamians-should-be-outraged-by-increasing-heroin-spice-prescription-drug-deaths
MONTGOMERY, AL (WBRC) – On Wednesday in Montgomery, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, George Beck, called a meeting to discuss the abuse of heroin, spice and prescription drugs and how to combat the problem.

Beck said parents have to take steps to look after their children.

“Today we are going to face what I call the quick kill, the quick death. We have an epidemic throughout the United States. We have it throughout Alabama,” Beck said.

Heroin abuse is a huge concern for Jefferson County. In 2014, the DEA reported more than 200 deaths from heroin and prescription drug overdoses.

Jefferson County Public Health Director Dr. Mark Wilson says many drug uses moved from prescription drug abuse to heroin.

“Yes there is a connection. Many people used to be addicted to prescription drugs and uses the supply has gotten tighter. Heron has come into the market cheaper,” Wilson said.

Wilson says they are teaming with education and health groups to fight heroin deaths.

DEA Special Assistant Agent in Charge Clay Morris says the growing number of heroin, spice and prescription pill deaths should be considered an outrage.

“If we had 200 people killed by carjackers or armed robbers or burglars in our communities we would be up in arms. Here we are talking about silent killers,” Morris said.

The head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) says this threat will get worse.

“It will spread across the state. In Montgomery and Mobile not as bad as in Birmingham. We are starting to see it. It will get that bad,” Spencer Collier said.

In their last report, the Alabama Department of Public health said nearly 500 people were seen at hospitals from March 15 to April 20 after using spice. Two of those people have died.

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1-IMG_7765  <— video link

This is a video sent to me by a prescriber friend… you be the judge … how quickly this Walgreen’s Pharmacist was quick to judge this Rx and this pt’s needs for a opiate.. and quickly that decision appears to do a 180 turn..

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In February 2012, a jury returned a verdict of $167,730,488.00 in Chopourian v. Catholic Healthcare West (2012, United States District Court, Eastern District of California). This case is believed to be the largest single-plaintiff employment verdict in United States history. Plaintiff, Ani Chopourian, was terminated from her position as a surgical physicians’ assistant in the cardiovascular surgery unit of Mercy General Hospital, a Sacramento hospital owned and operated by Catholic Healthcare West. During her employment, Chopourian was subjected to daily unwanted sexual advances, physical contact, and inappropriate and demeaning sexual comments. Chopourian was also denied meal and rest breaks required by California law. After Chopourian made several written and verbal complaints to hospital officials regarding these violations and inappropriate patient care, including surgical errors, she became the subject of unwarranted disciplinary actions in retaliation, culminating in her termination. For more information please visit: www.bohmlaw.com or contact our office at 1-866-920-1292.

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DEA Agent Speaks Out: We Were Told Not to Enforce Drug Laws In Rich Communities

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