The group of five Maryland physicians charged with inappropriate prescribing are getting their day in court – or rather, the court is getting their day with the docs.
According to an article [sub req] in the Daily Record, “IWIF [Maryland state work comp fund] said an internal audit of prescription payments showed that from 2001 to 2006, the annual reimbursement fees for prescriptions at Maryland Orthopedics jumped nearly 1,700 percent, going from $12,489 to $212,170 over the 5-year period.”
As I reported a couple weeks back, “One physician, Raymond Drapkin MD allegedly administered pain injections and simultaneously prescribed – and dispensed – significant quantities of narcotics to patients. One of Drapkin’s colleagues, Michael Franchetti MD, stands accused of the same type of inappropriate behavior, as do three other docs in the practice.” Franchetti was the first of the (allegedly) Fraudulent Five to have a settlement hearing; word is he appeared at a settlement hearing in late August. Results are supposed to be released prior to 10/13 when one of the trials starts.
Word is two of Franchett’s colleagues are “going down swinging” while others are settling out.
A colleague was kind enough to provide insights into what the docs were doing with all the cash they were getting from dispensing, injecting, and allegedly over-treating. Just shows that money does NOT equal good taste…
