Despite this knowledge, Dean prescribed R.W. an assortment of opioid medications. He even prescribed a fentanyl medication that was only approved for medical use by cancer patients with breakthrough pain. R.W. did not have cancer.
In addition, R.W. consumed the 30-day supplies of the prescription drugs before the 30 days elapsed.
Dean knew that prescribing R.W. with overlapping prescriptions for 30-day supplies of opiates would raise suspicion. Therefore, he covered his tracks by prescribing R.W. additional opiates using the name of one of R.W.’s family members.
Each time, Medicare funded the prescriptions, not knowing that R.W. was the recipient and consumer of the medications. Further complicating the matter, Dean personally picked up and paid a co-payment for one of the hydrocodone prescriptions written for R.W., using another patient’s name.
Dean issued C.H. a prescription for codeine, an opiate pain medication and controlled substance, after communicating with her via text message about personal matters. In fact, Dean did not even examine C.H. before issuing the prescription. According to medical records seized during a search of the medical office, C.H. had not visited Dean’s office in almost a year.
Plea Deal Details
In the plea deal, Dean admitted that his opioid prescribing methods exposed the patients to risk of serious bodily injury, especially given the patients’ histories of drug problems.
