"Beware of Prescription Scams Targeting Healthcare Providers"

November 5, 2019

News

Healthcare providers and employers should be on alert for a series of emerging phone scams specifically targeting healthcare providers with prescription authority and pharmacists. These scams have been reported in Ohio and are expected to afflict providers in other states as well.

Scammers are calling prescribers and pharmacists stating that they are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and that their DEA registration is going to be revoked or that they will be arrested if they do not pay a fine immediately by phone or fax. A variation involves calls from individuals posing as agents of the Ohio Board of Pharmacy or the Ohio State Medical Board trying to obtain payments to resolve pending disciplinary matters.

These instances are being investigated by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, the Ohio State Medical Board and the DEA. These agencies want to reaffirm that if they are conducting an investigation and a provider is facing action against his or her license, they will issue an official notice of opportunity for a hearing via certified U.S. mail or by personal service. In no case will the Ohio Board of Pharmacy or the Ohio State Medical Board be calling providers to collect fines over the phone or by fax.

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Over the past 24 months, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights has brought notable enforcement efforts against several non-profit covered entities and business associates, resulting in instances of six and seven-figure penalties against providers across the county for incidents involving breaches of protected health information.

A new amendment to New York state law, which would have required all healthcare providers to obtain separate consents from patients for treatment and payment is on hold until further guidance is released, according to the New York Department of Health.

On November 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule 2025 final rule, which establishes new advanced primary care management billing codes that will expand opportunities for physician practices, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics and other health care providers to get paid for services provided by clinical staff under the direction of a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant beginning January 1, 2025.

"Beware of Prescription Scams Targeting Healthcare Providers"

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