Settlement Bars Two From DEA Registration - Summary - MDSpire
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Settlement Bars Two From DEA Registration
A DOJ settlement resolved allegations involving a cash-pay pain practice in which continued access to controlled-substance prescriptions was tied to recurring payments.
To address unlawful opioid prescribing practices and fraudulent conveyance by a physician and nurse practitioner.
Approach:
Settlement Agreement: Defendants accepted responsibility for high-dose opioid prescribing without regular evaluations, resulting in a $500,000 civil settlement.
DEA Registration Ban: As part of the settlement, Douglas Cline, MD, and Laurie McKenna are barred from applying for or holding DEA registration for 20 years.
Key Findings:
Patients received high-dose opioids tied to recurring appointment payments without regular evaluations.
The case is part of the DOJ's 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.
Dr. Cline allegedly transferred assets to hinder federal recovery after learning of the investigation.
Interpretation:
The settlement highlights enforcement against medical professionals prioritizing profit over patient care.
Limitations:
Details on the specific number of patients affected were not provided.
The long-term impact of the settlement on opioid prescribing practices remains unclear.
Conclusion:
The resolution reinforces ongoing enforcement efforts against unlawful prescribing practices.
Longer initial prescriptions, use of multiple benzodiazepines, and long-acting agents were associated with delayed discontinuation in a retrospective population-based cohort study.
