Dea sweep

[curious]

I called my pain clinic today to rescedule my appt and asked if i could come in a day earlier and was told no becuase in his words " We hired a dea guy to come and sweep our files to stay ontop of things". I was wondering if they are lookin for doctor shoppers or are just being proactive by letting them look at there files to show that they are legitement and following the laws. The reason I ask is i have a few friends who just went to there initial visits there a little earlier then they should have and the clinic they used to go to has had there records looked at as well but for not following the laws. Does anyone know what is being looked for when an agent is hired to come in and "sweep files"? Does the DEA keep names and info of patients who have gone to clinics that have had there records looked at for any reason?

[polenhand02]

It depends on what state you live in. not all states have started that yet. fla, la, ky are real bad about doctor shopping and the rest of the states are starting to follow them but have not made it manditory yet. Hope that helps some...
polenhand

[ItsmeJules]

curious wrote:

I called my pain clinic today to rescedule my appt and asked if i could come in a day earlier and was told no becuase in his words " We hired a dea guy to come and sweep our files to stay ontop of things". I was wondering if they are lookin for doctor shoppers or are just being proactive by letting them look at there files to show that they are legitement and following the laws. The reason I ask is i have a few friends who just went to there initial visits there a little earlier then they should have and the clinic they used to go to has had there records looked at as well but for not following the laws. Does anyone know what is being looked for when an agent is hired to come in and "sweep files"? Does the DEA keep names and info of patients who have gone to clinics that have had there records looked at for any reason?

I think that is a bizarre statement for a receptionist to make. I am sure there are protocols in place to discourage people from doctor shopping behavior but I have yet to hear office personnel comment on it. I guess as the previous poster commented, it varies from state to state and possibly whether there seems to be a problem in a certain area i.e. clustered pain clinics or a concentration of pain management offices in any one particular area or even maybe a criminal investigation into an individual's behavior. I would say also that this is a very "Gray Area" shrouded in secrecy by the agencies involved. One never knows really what is the norm since there is no norm to compare it to. We would definitely need someone who works for the relevant agencies to comment on this, which seems pretty unlikely to happen.

[yomomma49]

I have lived in Ohio for 10 years & have been a Pain Clinic patient the entire time. I attended Pain Cinic for 8 or so years in the state I lived before moving here. I can say with confidence, Ohio is very much in the with the DEA's "Dr Shopping" reporting program. At least the area I live in is anyway. I had oral surgery in a different city & of course county & by my next appt at the clinic 3 weeks later,I was made to sign a warning statement for accepting a script for vicoden from this dr.. I even paid cash for it at a pharmacy there in the surgeon's county! So its not like my insurance was aware of it!Its scary but I learned my lesson.

[opianato]

yomomma49 im looking for help in ohio whats ur email i would like to chat wit u.

[curious]

ItsmeJules wrote:

<quoted text>I think that is a bizarre statement for a receptionist to make. I am sure there are protocols in place to discourage people from doctor shopping behavior but I have yet to hear office personnel comment on it. I guess as the previous poster commented, it varies from state to state and possibly whether there seems to be a problem in a certain area i.e. clustered pain clinics or a concentration of pain management offices in any one particular area or even maybe a criminal investigation into an individual's behavior. I would say also that this is a very "Gray Area" shrouded in secrecy by the agencies involved. One never knows really what is the norm since there is no norm to compare it to. We would definitely need someone who works for the relevant agencies to comment on this, which seems pretty unlikely to happen.

I'm in a part of florida where there isnt a large concintration of pain clinics, and it was the office manager that made these statements. The impressions I got from the manager is that they were hiring an agent to stay on top of things at the clinic, not to investigate them. Basicly it sounds like they are trying to cover there ass, to insure that they are abiding by all laws and regs for running a pain clinic dispensary in the state Florida. Im still worried about my friends situations any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.

[dirty south]

tell him to find a higher power jesus

[ItsmeJules]

curious wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm in a part of florida where there isnt a large concintration of pain clinics, and it was the office manager that made these statements. The impressions I got from the manager is that they were hiring an agent to stay on top of things at the clinic, not to investigate them. Basicly it sounds like they are trying to cover there ass, to insure that they are abiding by all laws and regs for running a pain clinic dispensary in the state Florida. Im still worried about my friends situations any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.

Well, given the state of affairs in Florida I wouldn't put it past the various agencies to possibly red flag patients that they think the clinic should watch. These clinics are really fighting for their existence down there and need to abide by all the rules and regulations set forth by the state. The ones with dispensaries on site, are really looked at a whole lot closer than those without. I don't know specifically what they would look for but definitely any questionable behavior i.e. running out of meds early, making early appts, inappropriate behavior or argumentative tendencies, talking with other patients outside of the office environment. They look for things that may indicate diversion tendencies or drug seeking behaviors. Again, you would really need to hear from someone who worked for such an agency to really know but that would be some guesses. You really didn't elaborate on exactly what your friends were doing that specifically had you concerned but I think just going in a little early, alone, wouldn't raise any immediate red flags but you never know in Florida. Can you be more specific about what you were concerned about with regards to your friends?

[curious]

ItsmeJules wrote:

<quoted text>Well, given the state of affairs in Florida I wouldn't put it past the various agencies to possibly red flag patients that they think the clinic should watch. These clinics are really fighting for their existence down there and need to abide by all the rules and regulations set forth by the state. The ones with dispensaries on site, are really looked at a whole lot closer than those without. I don't know specifically what they would look for but definitely any questionable behavior i.e. running out of meds early, making early appts, inappropriate behavior or argumentative tendencies, talking with other patients outside of the office environment. They look for things that may indicate diversion tendencies or drug seeking behaviors. Again, you would really need to hear from someone who worked for such an agency to really know but that would be some guesses. You really didn't elaborate on exactly what your friends were doing that specifically had you concerned but I think just going in a little early, alone, wouldn't raise any immediate red flags but you never know in Florida. Can you be more specific about what you were concerned about with regards to your friends?

They used to go to "a very big AMERICAN clinic specializing in Pain mgmt in south east florida" and it had only been 20 days in between visits. I told them they should wait buy there knuckle heads and do want. Im worried thr previous clinic they attended had done a similar sweep or were just investegated because of the sheer size or the quality of the patient and the fact that probably 50% or more are from out of state. Again thank you for any info I can pass along to my friends regarding these matters.

[curious]

curious wrote:

<quoted text>
They used to go to "a very big AMERICAN clinic specializing in Pain mgmt in south east florida" and it had only been 20 days in between visits. I told them they should wait buy there knuckle heads and do want. Im worried thr previous clinic they attended had done a similar sweep or were just investegated because of the sheer size or the quality of the patient and the fact that probably 50% or more are from out of state. Again thank you for any info I can pass along to my friends regarding these matters.

Does anyone have any more information about these file sweeps?

[biggs]

I too am near Orlando and my wife went to her Pain clinic , and she said that her doctor had changed alot of the rules this month for some reason. He said they had some sort of meeting with someone and they had to change some rules about some of the meds they were persribing. Maybe there is something going on in the Orlando or may the whole state of Floridawith the DES. I know thart outside of Florida, Florida is known to be very slack with their laws with pain clinics.
I for a fact that down near Miami there are tons of mail order pharmacies sending pain pills to people all over the country. And from what I have been told if you go down to thast area, there are signs everywhere advertising about pain clincs.

[Madam Kitty]

I hope I am not intruding on this thread, but may have something to offer.
I am in Virginia and just today, when I called to make my pain mgmt. docs appt., they made it for the 30th of November, on a Monday. My meds run out on Sunday.
Previously, since my insurance will fill a script at 75% usage, and because it is special order, the docs have never had a problem with me being seen a week early or post dating and calling the pharmacy to say, "go ahead and fill when the meds. come in."
The last two visits I had with my doctor, I was actually in the hospital and my son went to my appt. for me. The docs know him and he "was" a previous patient, so they have had no problem giving him my prescriptions. They did this just the 30th of October. Usually, the doc would have written a 2nd script to be filled "when available in November FOR December." Instead of that, she told my son she had to physically see me to write for November 29th meds.(which would actually be for December)
Perhaps something is going on nationwide? They are very cautious here because the DEA is so close in Washington. But as I said, because of my circumstances, i.e. special order, living 2 hours away, and being in and out of hospital, previously it hadn't been a problem getting in a week early or post dating with that specific wording above.
When I see her on the 30th, I am going to ask what is up with all this...
As a cancer patient, she knows I can't be without my meds, for even a day, so they are cutting it very close.
Take care to all of you and hoping that you can get some relief from your pain...
Kitty
Again, I apoligize if I am intruding...

[curious]

Madam Kitty wrote:

I hope I am not intruding on this thread, but may have something to offer.
I am in Virginia and just today, when I called to make my pain mgmt. docs appt., they made it for the 30th of November, on a Monday. My meds run out on Sunday.
Previously, since my insurance will fill a script at 75% usage, and because it is special order, the docs have never had a problem with me being seen a week early or post dating and calling the pharmacy to say, "go ahead and fill when the meds. come in."
The last two visits I had with my doctor, I was actually in the hospital and my son went to my appt. for me. The docs know him and he "was" a previous patient, so they have had no problem giving him my prescriptions. They did this just the 30th of October. Usually, the doc would have written a 2nd script to be filled "when available in November FOR December." Instead of that, she told my son she had to physically see me to write for November 29th meds.(which would actually be for December)
Perhaps something is going on nationwide? They are very cautious here because the DEA is so close in Washington. But as I said, because of my circumstances, i.e. special order, living 2 hours away, and being in and out of hospital, previously it hadn't been a problem getting in a week early or post dating with that specific wording above.
When I see her on the 30th, I am going to ask what is up with all this...
As a cancer patient, she knows I can't be without my meds, for even a day, so they are cutting it very close.
Take care to all of you and hoping that you can get some relief from your pain...
Kitty
Again, I apoligize if I am intruding...

If your doc gives you some usefull information, if you could post it here I'm sure a lot of us would appreciate it. Knowledge is power ya know?