A Louisiana physician was convicted for conspiring to illegally distribute more than 1.8 million opioids and defrauding healthcare benefit programs of more than $5.4 million.
Adrian Talbot, MD, 58, was convicted by a federal jury on one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances, four counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, according to a July 23 Justice Department news release.
Dr. Talbot owned and operated Medex Clinical Consultants in Slidell, La., according to the release. The medical clinic accepted cash payments from individuals seeking Schedule II controlled substances. Dr. Talbot routinely ignored signs that individuals frequenting Medex were drug-seeking or abusing the drugs prescribed.
In 2015, Dr. Talbot took a full-time job in Pineville, La. Though he was no longer physically present at the Slidell clinic, he pre-signed prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances, to be distributed to individuals there whom he did not see or examine. In 2016, he hired another practitioner who, at his direction, also pre-signed prescriptions in the same manner.
Dr. Talbot falsified patient records to cover up the scheme, according to the release. With his knowledge, patients filled their prescriptions using their insurance benefits, causing healthcare benefit programs including Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to be fraudulently billed for prescriptions.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23.