Pubdate: Fri, 19 Dec 2003
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2003, The Tribune Co.
Contact:  http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Note: Limit LTEs to 150 words

RESOLD DRUGS COST MEDICARE MILLIONS, JURY FINDS

FORT LAUDERDALE - Corrupt doctors, clinics and patients are fleecing 
Florida's Medicaid program out of millions of tax dollars by scheming to 
resell prescription drugs to street buyers, with few consequences if 
they're caught, a grand jury report released Thursday said.

Wholesalers are flooding the black market with prescription drugs. Those 
drugs are purchased illegally by abusers, some of whom die of overdoses. 
The statewide report, which focused on South Florida cases, estimates that 
three to five people in Florida die each day from prescription drug abuse.

The grand jury, convened in Broward County, recommends that the Legislature 
criminalize the resale of Medicaid drugs and penalize rogue providers and 
recipients by canceling their benefits.

It asks the state Agency for Health Care Administration to continue its 
plan to lock a recipient's Medicaid services into one doctor if the patient 
is found to have defrauded the program.

Attorney General Charlie Crist was joined by the state Office of Drug 
Control Director James McDonough and other state officials to announce the 
report.

``I cannot imagine the bloodsucking nature of a doctor or pharmacist that 
would engage in essentially the life risk of the recipient involved,'' said 
McDonough, who said Gov. Jeb Bush supports the findings. ``The recipient 
himself has cheapened his life to a degree that he gives up the drugs which 
the public has paid for in order to turn it back in for profit.''
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart