Justice 008

 

Government Alleges Violations of Controlled Substances Act in Connection with Two Patients

Dr. Paul Lottes, a family medicine physician in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has agreed to pay $100,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the Controlled Substances Act by writing prescriptions for opioid medications that had no legitimate medical purpose and were not issued in the usual course of professional practice.

The United States alleges that from August 2017 to April 2019, Dr. Lottes wrote prescriptions for opioids classified as Schedule II controlled substances for two patients that had no legitimate medical purpose and were not issued in the usual course of professional practice, in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.

In addition to agreeing to pay the $100,000 settlement, Dr. Lottes has also agreed not to reapply for a controlled substances registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) for a period of three years. Without the DEA registration, Dr. Lottes will not be able to prescribe controlled substances during this time.

“Overprescribing is a major factor in the devastating opioid epidemic facing our country,” said U.S. Attorney Peter E. Deegan. “As this settlement demonstrates, our office is committed to using all available tools to fight this epidemic, including civil prosecution under the Controlled Substances Act.”

“Doctors who prescribe controlled substances outside the bounds of professional practice betray their oaths as practitioners and also fail the patients who trust them for care,” DEA Omaha Division Diversion Program Manager Sarah Boblenz said. “DEA and its partners at the federal, state and local level will continue to investigate all practitioners who cause harm to the public and fuel the opioid epidemic.”

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Carrington and investigated by the State of Iowa’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the DEA.  

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

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