Archive for February 2019
New prescription monitoring tool could see increase in false tips
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, more than five thousand people died in Pennsylvania in 2017 due to opioid overdoses. In the state’s ongoing battle against the opioid epidemic, the state Attorney General’s Office rolled out a new program in December to make it easier for medical professionals to report suspicious activity. Prescribers as…
Read MoreCan Pennsylvania doctors prescribe marijuana to their patients?
For the last several years, medical marijuana has been in the national news. While some fear that allowing it to be used in the medical field is a slippery slope to allowing its permissible use by everyone, there is no doubt that for some medical patients marijuana is a life-changing drug. Different jurisdictions throughout the…
Read MoreImmediate Tempory Suspension — Do Not Sign Any Document
Doctors beware. Government prosecutors are fighting the opiate epidemic on many fronts. Now more than ever local police in coordination with DEA and Commonwealth Attorney General drug enforcement investigators are investigating doctors for writing unreasonable amounts of scheduled narcotic prescriptions. DEA federal data base schedule II generated prescription writing reports spawn both federal and state…
Read MoreThe PHMP, Kevin Knipe, Pharmacy Board, and an Abuse of Discretion
The PHMP, it’s caseworkers, and director Kevin Knipe’s treatment of licensees is a major topic of my blogs and website. I routinely field inquiries regarding false positive drug tests, chain of custody issues, and other PHMP claimed violations. How do I get out of the PHMP is the most consistent PHMP question. Kevin Knipe rules…
Read MoreShould I report a crime if the statute of limitations expired?
Individuals who are subject to professional licensing are often required to self-report the criminal charges that are issued against them. Certain crimes and convictions may be weighed against them and can threaten one’s ability to attain and retain his or her license to practice in the medical field. Those who fear that criminal legal matters…
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