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.'' - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart