Blog Articles

The FDA lacks any real “teeth” to do their job.

Per a letter I wrote awhile back, I see that the Oregon PDMP is finally reporting the refills properly per my suggestion.

If they want to claim religious beliefs, then they need to be willing to pay the consequences of such beliefs too.

Pulled out some records to check some things and refreshed myself with something I had been meaning to post earlier but got distracted.

I find it amazing that so many clinics, especially pain clinics are ignoring the requirements of having pain agreements and Material Risk Notices with their patients.

Here is a letter that I sent to the Office Manager of Oregon Cardiology, located at Peace Health Sacred Heart Medical Center, by fax on 12-10-19.

CHI Mercy is so great about spinning the details on anything that they can turn into a big billboard along the highway. Let’s see how they spin this one off too.

Umpqua Community Health Center (UCHC) recently changed their name under the state business registry. They still kept the one name for legal reasons, but changed the public name to the DBA (doing business as) name of “Aviva.”

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) specifies certain requirements that are to be on all faxed documents.

Patient had EKG testing done last year at Samaritan Lebanon Hospital. This year I ordered another EKG to monitor their condition and specifically wrote on the order form to compare it to last year’s EKG (something that is commonly done).

Patient went to get records from their office and was told that they would not accept any Release of Information (ROI) form except ADAPT’s. Where did that idea come from?

Had a patient go to South River CHC to complete an EKG. They did it back in August. He signed the paperwork to send the results to my office since we ordered it.

I predict that within the next two to five years we will be seeing two major trends happening within our healthcare system and they will both be the result of the changes Medicare has been making towards the reimbursement system...

It seems that Umpqua Health and it’s clinical and administrative staff have big secrets to hide. First they close their office on Harvard Avenue WITHOUT informing patients . . . no letter, no phone calls, etc.

Dr. Catherine Gallo performed a physical examination during a consult on a patient in December of 2018.

Was contacted by an out-of-state media company called Patient Point that was hired by Mercy to start advertising local physicians on a TV screen located in their ER and south entrance to their hospital.

Here is my response to the Pain News Network article entitled: “Study: Prescription Drug Databases Overestimate Opioid Misuse” written by Pat Anson and posted 8-13-19:

While everyone deals with the “opioid” crisis, more and more patients are being “converted” to Buprenorphine products (really just another opioid).

Here’s an opinion I posted on the Pain New Network in response to the article “Are Rx Opioids the Culprits or Scapegoats for Opioid Crisis?” by Dr. Lynn Webster and posted August 10, 2019:

Here’s my response to the article “Co-Pay Assistance Programs Fail to Help Uninsured Patients” by Pat Anson and posted on the Pain News Network on August 6, 2019

Here’s my response to an article posted on Pain News Network on August 8, 2019 by Pat Anson and titled: “Experts Advise Against It, But Opioids Often Used to Treat Migraine.”

Here’s my response to the article by Pat Anson posted July 19, 2019 on the Pain News Network entitled: “Pharmacists and Rx Wholesalers Charged with Drug Trafficking“

The ongoing clash with this clinic is far from over. They have failed to send us records in a timely manner for years. Now their ploy is to NOT fax records to our office despite the patient’s signed Release of Information form stating they may do so.

Years ago when the federal government started passing laws regarding electronic medical record systems, they demanded integrated communicability between systems at various offices, hospitals, etc.

Prior Authorizations have been used for years by insurance companies and pharmacy benefit mangers (PBM’s) to deny or delay medications, imaging, treatments, surgeries, etc. for their insured patient, their own client.

Saw a patient yesterday for their first visit. I had reviewed their records a week earlier and noted problems.

Here’s my response to the article “Michigan Opioid Study Discusses Access to Primary Care Clinics for Patients with Chronic Pain” posted on July 14, 2019 by Ed Coghlan on the National Pain Report website.

Here is my second response due to the many responses posted by patients on the article “Michigan Opioid Study Discusses Access to Primary Care Clinics for Patients with Chronic Pain” posted on July 14, 2019 by Ed Coghlan on the National Pain Report website

Oregon state law requires that any pharmacy filling controlled substances, categories II – IV, report them to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (DMP) within 72 hours of dispensing.

Let’s compare two cases of leaving an infant in the backseat of a hot car in a car seat unattended.

This article posted 6-14-19: “Why Do Doctors Keep Pushing Invasive Procedures on Me?” — Pain News Network

Two local physicians have been discovered to have staff members that have been writing their own prescriptions by stealing prescriptions pads.

Mercy Medical Center recently LOST an EKG that was performed on my patient. In fact they had the WRONG phone number and address for the patient in their computer system, and even noted the patient’s marital status WRONGLY.

This article appeared on the Pharmacist Steve website on May 6, 2019.

That was the title of the article that appeared May 6, 2019 on the Pain News Network. It was written by Roger Chriss.

Recently had a patient switch to Health Net. They had been getting their medication for years without problem, but now Health Net says otherwise.

This was the title of the Public Forum letter published in the News Review on May 5, 2019 and attributed to Mike Berns of Brookings.

I recently reviewed the records of a new applicant who has been seeing the Salem Clinic.

Just in the last few weeks, I had to notify Sav-on, the PDMP, and the Oregon Board of Pharmacy of another eight illegal acts by Sav-on.

It has been reported to me by reliable sources that do not wish to get involved with the proper reporting of such crimes that two doctors in Roseburg have had staff members falsifying prescriptions and passing them off in town.

Just saw a patient this week who was seen in the Mercy Medical Center ER, then admitted, was in the ICU and saw a mental health specialist before discharge.

Reviewed another patient’s records from Evergreen Family Medicine. No controlled substance agreement was on file. No Material Risk Notice was on file. Both of these are strongly recommended by medical organizations and the Oregon Medical Board.

Pain News Network recently posted this article entitled “Cancer Patient’s Rite Aid Video Goes Viral” on May 3, 2019.

This is the letter I faxed to the PDMP on 4-5-19

On April 8th, the PDMP responded to my letter. Here is their response

Here’s the letter I faxed to the PDMP on 4-17-19. No response as of this posting from any of the recipients!

I had to send three more error reports to Savon, the PDMP, and the Oregon Board of Pharmacy.

After reviewing the records on a patient and discussing the records with the patient in person, it becomes apparent that a Nurse Practitioner at the South River Community Health Center commits fraud on her medical records.

Reviewed medical records from the patient’s Physician’s Assistant at South River Community Health Center.

Just reviewed the final records on a patient being seen by a doctor at the Umpqua Community Health Center. I had previously reviewed what records they sent and had to ask for additional records that they failed to send as part of the original package.

Reviewed medical records from multiple providers for a patient applying to my clinic. There are SO MANY things wrong with them, it’s difficult to know where to start, but here goes.

Just posted this response to the article entitled “Pain Sufferers May Benefit From Combining Opioids and Marijuana” on the National Pain Report website:

Here’s the letter I wrote to the PDMP, SavOn, and the Oregon Board of Pharmacy and faxed to them on 4-17-19. As usual, I doubt much action will occur.

Evergreen Family Medicine has again failed to provide all the appropriate medical records on a patient that they have been treating. Every document signed by the providers is part of the medical record.

Records from NeuroSpine FAIL to show the pain medications that they are prescribing to a patient in the “Medication” section.

Just reviewed the final records of a patient applying for care.

Just reviewed over 400 pages of medical records from Sonoma Family Practice out of Sonoma, CA. The two page “Consent form for Controlled Substane Therapy” is NOT signed by the physician and is NOT dated.

There is NO law, neither state or federal, that prevents any physician from prescribing opiate pain medications to patients also using medical marijuana.

Major medical associations and state agencies advocate for the use of pain agreements and Material Risk Notices to be completed with chronic pain patients before continuing to prescribe opioid medications long term.

Here’s my response to the recent article “FDA Warns About Fast Opioid Tapers” that appeared on the Pain News Network website on 4-9-19:

Here is my response to the recent article entitled “An Open Letter to the CDC Center for Injury Prevention” that Dr. Richard Lawhern posted on the Pain News Network website on 4-9-19:

Just posted this comment to the article of “Doctor, Doctor – Are you listening to what she says?” on the National Pain Report website:

So a Roseburg radiologist, Dr. Diwaker Agarwal, that is on staff at Mercy Medical Center got a warning for “soliciting” prostitution.

Oregon’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program has “secret” access to records NOT viewable to prescribers?

Just reviewed records from Dr. Fred Luke Herscher of Sutherlin on one of his past patients.

Had an interesting phone call today from South River Community Health Center.

Sent four notices out to SavOn pharmacy, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy and the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program today.

I posted today onto the “Pharmacist Steve” website regarding the article about “Bayer, J&J settle thousands of US Xarelto lawsuits for $775 million.” Here’s a copy of what I had to say:

Just posted this comment on the Pain News Network website regarding their newest article

I just read on Fox News that Oklahoma has settled with Purdue Pharma for $270,000,000.

Usually when I read medical records from our local medical providers, I get sarcasm and disdain from them regarding the fact that I am also seeing their patient and allow them to use medical marijuana with or without opiate medications.

Mercy Medical Center fails AGAIN . . . how typical . . . and how pathetic that they can’t do their job right

There are so many errors and fraudulent entries made by numerous providers using Electron Health Record systems that it’s laughable and pathetic at the same time.

While the PDMP can be a highly useful tool when it is used by ALL prescribers (NOT required by law, yet!)

Re:  Multiple errors on PDMP in violation of state law

Today I found four mistakes on the PDMP by Alberstons all committed on 2-20-19 and 2-21-19.

Informed today by a patient, whose husband is in Mercy Medical Center and about to be discharged, that she attempted to find a local nursing home to take him.

Met a new local provider today who works at Evergreen Family Medicine, also otherwise known as Centennial Medical Group East.

Any patient who signs the Electronic Medical Record notice that DCIPA and other clinics demand needs to realize that their confidential health history is now available to anyone who has access to that computer system.

Most medical offices commonly share records between providers that are treating mutual patients.

The state is just doing what the Umpqua Health Alliance already proved could be done back in the summer of 2013.

It’s been four weeks since I sent a long detailed letter responding to the recommendation of changes to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program per the audit conducted by the Secretary of State.

Why is it that those involved with covering up ex-Sen. Jeff Kruse walk away free and clear, just like him?

Albertson’s Savon is at it again!

Just got medical records from ADAPT of Roseburg for a patient applying for medical treatment. The patient received treatment from ADAPT.

As reported in the News Review Jan. 12, 2018, “The Roseburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center has the highest rate of opioid prescriptions of any VA in the country, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.”

I am not an economist, but I feel that health insurance companies seem to fit into the “economic bubbles” of schemes and more that basically funnel money from one party to another.

Today, 2-28-19, I had 2 controlled substances that failed to show up on the PDMP system after 28 days. Both were filled at Albertson’s Savon on 1-31-19 and are way past the 72 hour state mandated law.

Senator Shemia Fagan responded on 2-24-19 to my review of the PDMP audit done by the state.

The World Health Organization owns the copyright to the ICD-10 codes that are currently used around the world to apply for reimbursement through the various insurance companies.

Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners FAILS to make their licensees accountable for violations of state law

Patient hasn’t seen me since June 2016 and had notified us then that they would not be returning due to insurance issues.

Medical records reviewed from this office showed that an Opioid Prescribing Agreement (OPA) and a Materials Risk Notice (MRN) were completed by the patient and Dr. Joseph Savino in 2016.

Today had 3 controlled substance prescriptions that FAILED to show up on the PDMP system at 27 days after they were filled — law says they are supposed to be reported within 72 hours!

Just reviewed over two years worth of medical records from South River CHC regarding a patient that 3 providers (Skyler Meyer, FNP and Marcy Dean, FNP and Carl Leder, PA) prescribed ongoing opiates to.

Did you see the CBS Sixty Minutes story on the FDA entitled “Did the FDA ignite the opioid epidemic?”

It is truly amazing the number of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants who fail to treat low Vitamin D levels appropriately.

I sent my PDMP review letter with numerous attachments to every member of the Oregon legislature.

The News Review reported today, 2-23-19, that CHI Mercy has been sued by Ms. Renee Bates due to injuries she sustained while at their facility.

Oregon Medical Board FAILS to hold providers to a standard of care that protects the lives of patients.