The opioid epidemic rages on in the United States of America. Needless to say, the Allegiant Experts team joins so many of our fellow Americans in saying that we’re not happy about it. Honestly, that’s an understatement. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that there were 107,941 drug overdose deaths reported in 2022. “Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) continued to rise with 73,838 overdose deaths reported in 2022,” details their website.
Louisiana doctor convicted for illegally distributing opioids.
As reported by the Office of Public Affairs yesterday, 58 year-old Adrian Dexter Talbot has only worsened our nation’s opioid epidemic. The Slidell, Louisiana resident was just convicted for conspiring to illegally distribute over 1.8 million doses of Schedule II controlled substances. They included oxycodone and morphine. Talbot was also found guilty of defrauding health care benefit programs of more than $5.4 million.
Oxycodone is a prescription pain medication that is found in such products as Percocet, Oxycontin, Oxycocet and Endocet. Usually taken orally, this drug is both highly addictive and commonly abused. Morphine is a non-synthetic narcotic, used for pain relief. Often taken either orally or intravenously, this opiate is also very addictive and often abused.
Talbot ignored signs that patients were abusing their prescriptions.
Talbot owned and operated the Slidell-based Medex Clinical Consultants. The clinic was known for accepting cash payments from individuals who sought prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances. As detailed by the Office of Public Affairs report, Talbot ignored signs that Medex’s regular visitors were seeking drugs and abusing them.
“In 2015, Talbot took a full-time job in Pineville, Louisiana, and although he was no longer physically present at the Slidell clinic, he pre-signed prescriptions, including for opioids and other controlled substances, to be distributed to individuals there whom he did not see or examine,” details the report, “In 2016, Talbot hired another practitioner who, at Talbot’s direction, also pre-signed prescriptions to be distributed in the same manner at the Slidell clinic in exchange for cash deposited into the Medex account.”
Talbot also falsified patient records to cover up the scheme.
The doctor knowingly filled prescriptions for those with insurance benefits. As a result, health care benefit programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana were fraudulently billed. The prescriptions were written without an appropriate patient examination or determination of medical necessity.
Talbot was convicted of one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances. He was also found guilty of four counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23rd, 2024.
Talbot faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He also faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the other counts.
Are you an attorney who is currently working a healthcare fraud case?
The clinical experts at Allegiant Experts can help you! We coordinate and support courageous whistleblowers that shine lights on fraud, waste and abuse. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 407-217-5831. You may also email us at info@allegiantexperts.com.
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