Guest guest Posted December 31, 2001 Report Share Posted December 31, 2001 I have been torn as to sharing my current physician situation. The entire thing has been beyond my belief. Some of you may have heard. I received a call from a PAI member friend who goes to the same pain clinic as I do that said MY doctor had just been arrested during a sting operation with one of his patients for one of the largest narcotic Medicaid fraud and Oxycontin diversion schemes ever in Medicaid history. As you can imagine, I was in shock. I still can't bring myself to believe he had any part in it. I didn't share this earlier because I didn't want to spread gossip, but apparantly it is true. So, I really need someone who is in the same situation of needing serious pain medication to understand what it is like to feel like they have just been cut off a lifeboat and thrown to the ocean to drown or be eaten by sharks. It is really scary. I know that my primary internist will more than likely support and care for me until I can find another pain clinic.......like that is going to happen. It took me a year to find this one and that is after I had been to every other one in Indianapolis. " Oh my God, please don't abandon me. " I have prayed. The Federal Drug Administrationa and FBI have confiscated my medical record so it will not be available for copying and transfer to another physician. We should be prepared for investigation or interview. A letter was sent out stating that we should begin weaning ourselves off all narcotics and find another doctor.We are to save our prescription bottles as proof of our medication regimine. So....my stomach hurts, my skin is somewhat clammy, I'm naseaus.I'm numb. Somehow I feel like I have been betrayed. And, you know what...I really don't want to hear that " everything is going to be okay " . That isn't making me feel any better right now.I guess you never know when the rug is going to be pulled right out from under your feet. I just got back standing on my feet. I decided to post the article that was in the paper. It's public knowledge anyway. You can't imagine how important you all are to me. When no one else undestands...you do. Thanks. Karyn KarynWms@... Founder / Preseident Pancreatitis Association International --------------------- From the Indianapolis Star ----------------------- Accused doctor was speaker for drug firm Associated Press December 26, 2001 A physician accused of filling OxyContin prescriptions for a drug ring and billing Indiana's Medicaid program more than $100,000 for the narcotic also was a paid speaker for the drug's manufacturer. Federal prosecutors have charged Dr. Randolph W. Lievertz of Indianapolis with writing about $550,000 in OxyContin prescriptions this year for Medicaid patients - six times more than any other doctor in the state. Authorities arrested Lievertz, 49, and Melinda D. Hawkins, 36, of North Vernon Dec. 20 on charges of unlawful distribution of OxyContin and health-care fraud. OxyContin is a synthetic morphine generally prescribed for patients with severe pain, but it has become widely abused in recent years. Merle Spiegel, a spokeswoman for Stamford, Conn.-based Purdue Pharma, said today that Lievertz had been a paid speaker for the company six times in the past two years. He last spoke for Purdue in June. " We had understood that he was highly credentialed, so we had used him " , she said in a telephone interview. Lievertz also spoke occasionally at pain-management seminars that were organized by other groups but paid for in part by Purdue Pharma, Spiegel said Dr. Neil Irick, who shared office space with Lievertz in Indianapolis, said Lievertz often instructed other doctors on the use of pain medication. " I think he was a speaker for them because of his expertise in how to spot patients with addiction problems " , Irick said. Lievertz's office was closed today. His home phone number was apparently connected to a fax machine. A fax seeking comment was sent by The Associated Press. Lievertz is accused of prescribing OxyContin to Hawkins numerous times between Dec. 3, 1998, and this month. Hawkins had the prescriptions filled at pharmacies between Indianapolis and Jennings County, about 50 miles south. She then supplied the drug to dealers, U.S. Attorney said last week. Hawkins obtained the equivalent of nearly 30,000 80-milligram pills of OxyContin, which is the largest dose available. Hawkins paid $8 a month for the drug and the rest , about $130,205 , was paid through Medicaid, said. If convicted, Lievertz could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Authorities also arrested three other residents of North Vernon in connection with the drug ring. Lievertz has prescribed more OxyContin to Medicaid recipients than any other doctor in Indiana. In 2000, Lievertz prescribed more than $500,000 worth of OxyContin, and from Jan. 1 to Sept. 26 alone, he prescribed $559,432 worth of the drug. The next highest dollar amount of OxyContin prescriptions from a single doctor was $87,000, said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2001 Report Share Posted December 31, 2001 > I have been torn as to sharing my current physician situation. The entire thing has been beyond my belief. Some of you may have heard. I received a call from a PAI member friend who goes to the same pain clinic as I do that said MY doctor had just been arrested during a sting operation with one of his patients for one of the largest narcotic Medicaid fraud and Oxycontin diversion schemes ever in Medicaid history.... So, I really need someone who is in the same situation of needing serious pain medication to understand what it is like to feel like they have just been cut off a lifeboat and thrown to the ocean to drown or be eaten by sharks..... Somehow I feel like I have been betrayed. > Karyn > KarynWms@a... > Founder / Preseident > Pancreatitis Association International Karyn, I've not been in your situation, but your disappointment & heartbreak is very easy to understand. It tears you apart to learn such ugly facts about someone you trusted with your very life. I wish I had something more tangible to offer, but please know that you are in my thoughts & heart. You have been through so much, given so much to others - perhaps one of the doctors you have come to know through the symposiums & /or other meetings will be able to help. All best wishes, jang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2001 Report Share Posted December 31, 2001 -Karyn, First of all, I would be scared to death to go anywhere with out my pain meds. I will just grab the bottles. And I tried to drive today, and had to switch with my husband Mike. Driving was not going to happen. It is hard to except when someone you trust turns out to be dirty. Especially at your expense. If you explain what is going on to your PCP right away, would he be willing to make sure you could get refills till you find someone else? Cheryl -- In pancreatitis@y..., KarynWms@a... wrote: > I have been torn as to sharing my current physician situation. The entire thing has been beyond my belief. Some of you may have heard. > > I received a call from a PAI member friend who goes to the same pain clinic as I do that said MY doctor had just been arrested during a sting operation with one of his patients for one of the largest narcotic Medicaid fraud and Oxycontin diversion schemes ever in Medicaid history. As you can imagine, I was in shock. I still can't bring myself to believe he had any part in it. I didn't share this earlier because I didn't want to spread gossip, but apparantly it is true. > > So, I really need someone who is in the same situation of needing serious pain medication to understand what it is like to feel like they have just been cut off a lifeboat and thrown to the ocean to drown or be eaten by sharks. It is really scary. > > I know that my primary internist will more than likely support and care for me until I can find another pain clinic.......like that is going to happen. It took me a year to find this one and that is after I had been to every other one in Indianapolis. " Oh my God, please don't abandon me. " I have prayed. > > The Federal Drug Administrationa and FBI have confiscated my medical record so it will not be available for copying and transfer to another physician. We should be prepared for investigation or interview. A letter was sent out stating that we should begin weaning ourselves off all narcotics and find another doctor.We are to save our prescription bottles as proof of our medication regimine. > > So....my stomach hurts, my skin is somewhat clammy, I'm naseaus.I'm numb. > > Somehow I feel like I have been betrayed. > > And, you know what...I really don't want to hear that " everything is going to be okay " . That isn't making me feel any better right now.I guess you never know when the rug is going to be pulled right out from under your feet. I just got back standing on my feet. > > I decided to post the article that was in the paper. It's public knowledge anyway. > > You can't imagine how important you all are to me. When no one else undestands...you do. Thanks. > > Karyn > KarynWms@a... > Founder / Preseident > Pancreatitis Association International > > --------------------- From the Indianapolis Star ----------------- ------ > Accused doctor was speaker for drug firm > > Associated Press > > December 26, 2001 > > A physician accused of filling OxyContin prescriptions for a drug ring and billing Indiana's Medicaid program more than $100,000 for the narcotic also was a paid speaker for the drug's manufacturer. > > Federal prosecutors have charged Dr. Randolph W. Lievertz of Indianapolis with writing about $550,000 in OxyContin prescriptions this year for Medicaid > patients - six times more than any other doctor in the state. > > Authorities arrested Lievertz, 49, and Melinda D. Hawkins, 36, of North > Vernon > Dec. 20 on charges of unlawful distribution of OxyContin and health- care > fraud. > > OxyContin is a synthetic morphine generally prescribed for patients with > severe pain, but it has become widely abused in recent years. > > Merle Spiegel, a spokeswoman for Stamford, Conn.-based Purdue Pharma, said > today that Lievertz had been a paid speaker for the company six times in the > past two years. He last spoke for Purdue in June. > > " We had understood that he was highly credentialed, so we had used him " , she > said in a telephone interview. Lievertz also spoke occasionally at > pain-management seminars that were organized by other groups but paid for in > part by Purdue Pharma, Spiegel said > > Dr. Neil Irick, who shared office space with Lievertz in Indianapolis, said > Lievertz often instructed other doctors on the use of pain medication. > > " I think he was a speaker for them because of his expertise in how to spot > patients with addiction problems " , Irick said. > > Lievertz's office was closed today. His home phone number was apparently > connected to a fax machine. A fax seeking comment was sent by The Associated > Press. > > Lievertz is accused of prescribing OxyContin to Hawkins numerous times > between > Dec. 3, 1998, and this month. > > Hawkins had the prescriptions filled at pharmacies between Indianapolis and > Jennings County, about 50 miles south. She then supplied the drug to dealers, > U.S. Attorney said last week. > > Hawkins obtained the equivalent of nearly 30,000 80-milligram pills of > OxyContin, which is the largest dose available. Hawkins paid $8 a month for > the drug and the rest , about $130,205 , was paid through Medicaid, > said. > > If convicted, Lievertz could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison > and > a $250,000 fine. Authorities also arrested three other residents of North > Vernon in connection with the drug ring. > > Lievertz has prescribed more OxyContin to Medicaid recipients than any other > doctor in Indiana. In 2000, Lievertz prescribed more than $500,000 worth of > OxyContin, and from Jan. 1 to Sept. 26 alone, he prescribed $559,432 worth of > the drug. > > The next highest dollar amount of OxyContin prescriptions from a single > doctor > was $87,000, said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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