The Southwest Side pharmacy agreed to pay a civil penalty of $275,000 in settlement. Justice Department Litigation Alleges he illegally filled prescriptions for opioids.
Zarzamora Healthcare LLCWe are doing business as. Ready-to-use pharmacy and medical supplies #2and its former pharmacist recently entered into a consent agreement and final judgment resolving a complaint filed last year in San Antonio federal court by the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch.
The defendants continue to deny the charges.
Also read: San Antonio doctor prosecutors say fueled local opioid epidemic to plead guilty
Under the agreement, Right Away and former pharmacist Jitendra Chandry are jointly liable for a $95,000 fine. The remainder of his $180,000 will be the sole responsibility of the pharmacy.
Rite-Away is open at 2716 SW Military Drive.
Mr. Chandley, who is said to be a co-owner of the pharmacy, is prohibited by contract from working as a pharmacist in charge at any pharmacy other than Right Away #2 for seven years.
The Texas State Board of Pharmacy website states: Chandley’s pharmacist license expired on May 31st.. The license was issued to him in 2006.
Justice Department lawyers argued that Right Away and Chandley violated the Controlled Substances Act by failing to ensure that the drugs they dispensed were “issued for a legitimate medical purpose.” According to the consent agreement, the defendants also falsified prescription records provided to the government.
Also read: Veterinarian pays $85,000 to settle federal charges over forging prescriptions to stockpile medicines
In addition to the civil penalty, the defendants are prohibited from a series of actions, including distributing drugs earlier than two days before a prescription is filled and simultaneously prescribing opioids to the same patient unless the prescription is approved. ing. It’s the same doctor.
The defendants agreed to a five-year period of supervision from the time the order was signed by U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam on Tuesday.
Rite-Away is required to periodically review drug dispensing records and compliance with the Controlled Substances Act.
The Justice Department alleged in its lawsuit that Right Away and Chandley “fueled and profited from the opioid epidemic” by dispensing opioids without valid prescriptions and other actions. Each violation of the Controlled Substances Act carries a maximum fine of $15,876.
Drug Enforcement Administration agents discovered 242 prescription changes made by Right Away in 2018 and 2019, according to the complaint. Additionally, the defendants allegedly ignored obvious “red flags” of abuse or diversion when filling opioid prescriptions.
Also read: Former Navy sailor sentenced to 30 years in prison for selling fentanyl-laced pills that killed young mother
According to the complaint, a patient identified as “MP” submitted prescriptions for opioids, fentanyl, and benzodiazepine antidepressants to LightAway over a two-month period in 2017. The defendants should have known that the prescription provided by MP was not for a legitimate medical purpose and should not have been filled, the complaint says.
According to the complaint, MP died from the toxic effects of fentanyl on September 11, 2017, within nine days of Right Away filling the prescription.
Attorneys for the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
