By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    UV damage to eyes
    Warning Signs of Long-Term UV Damage to Your Eyes
    December 9, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    The Ultimate Healthcare Recruiting and Staffing Guidebook
    March 21, 2022
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    nursing program
    7 Tips to Picking the Best Nursing Program
    February 5, 2018
    Health Care: A Modern-Day Blade Runner?
    December 10, 2014
    Occupational Therapy Assistant | Medical Assistant | Home Health Aide
    In-Demand Healthcare Support Jobs
    April 16, 2016
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Addressing the Phenomenon of “Pill Mill” Doctors
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Geriatrics > Addressing the Phenomenon of “Pill Mill” Doctors
Geriatrics

Addressing the Phenomenon of “Pill Mill” Doctors

bertlouthian
Last updated: July 23, 2015 4:16 pm
bertlouthian
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

While the country seems to be in a constant debate about what effects legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana may have on our youth, it seems that not enough people are paying attention to the effects legal narcotics are having on our elderly — or how often physicians are prescribing them. Proactive pro- and anti-pot research is conducted everywhere from to basements to universities. But it takes repeat complaints, or patient death, for officials to look into physicians who may be overmedicating. 

While the country seems to be in a constant debate about what effects legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana may have on our youth, it seems that not enough people are paying attention to the effects legal narcotics are having on our elderly — or how often physicians are prescribing them. Proactive pro- and anti-pot research is conducted everywhere from to basements to universities. But it takes repeat complaints, or patient death, for officials to look into physicians who may be overmedicating. 

More Read

What To Know About Current Trends In Healthcare And Aging
Should Men and Women Have Different Mental Health Services?
Healthcare For The Elderly Is More Important Than Ever Amid COVID-19
5 Ways to Use Texting in Healthcare Marketing and Engagement
Protecting Seniors From the West Nile Virus

Understanding the Scope of the Problem

Since Medicare Part D began in 2006, it has become a popular program among senior citizens for helping to lower their drug costs. It currently covers about 38 million seniors and disabled people, and pays for more than one of every four prescriptions dispensed. As important as it is to get medication into the hands of those who need it, problem prescribers are being overlooked.

All mind-altering drugs are categorized according to Schedules I through V. Those in Schedule II are defined as having some medical use along with a high potential for abuse. They also require written prescriptions and cannot be refilled. ProPublica, a non-profit organization of investigative journalists, discovered that in 2012, nearly 27 million prescriptions for the powerful narcotic painkillers and stimulants classified in Schedule II were covered by Medicare. More troubling, 12 of Medicare’s top 20 prescribers of these drugs had previously faced disciplinary actions by their state medical boards or criminal charges related to their medical practices.

In 2012, 269 providers wrote at least 3,000 prescriptions for Schedule II drugs and about one in five of these doctors have faced some kind of disciplinary action. Florida had 52 providers that wrote at least 3,000 Schedule II prescriptions, followed by Tennessee with 25. North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Alabama and Kentucky each had more than 10. ProPublica has developed a Prescriber Checkup tool that includes controlled substance prescribing for each provider. You can look up your doctor here.

Why Not Be Proactive?

Tracking the prescribing habits of physicians and making sure the rules are followed has been largely left to state medical boards and law enforcement agencies. Most investigations are triggered by patient deaths or complaints from patients’ families, insurance companies or pharmacies rather than from Medicare using its own records to locate and flag fraud.

The records of prescribing data were not proactively analyzed and action against providers with troubling patterns was rarely taken. In fact, Medicare’s failure to follow up on unusual prescribing patterns and its elaborate, poorly managed process has allowed Medicare fraud to flourish.

The exposure of these flaws in the Medicare system has slowly begun bringing more openness to the medication choices of doctors nationwide.

Improvements On the Horizon

Medicare began to use prescribing data to identify potentially problematic doctors in 2013, and later this year it will have the authority to kick doctors out of the program if they prescribe in abusive ways.

Last month, the government released physician utilization data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, covering $90 billion in payments across 950,000 providers. This is valuable information that may flag providers who should be asked questions because they prescribe certain drugs to a high proportion of their patients. Furthermore, some states have now made it mandatory that doctors check databases that track every controlled substance prescription in their state before prescribing such drugs to patients for the first time and at certain intervals afterward.

It’s time to take some steps to end prescription abuse underwritten by the government and hold healthcare professionals responsible for their actions.

TAGGED:geriatricsHealthcarenarcotics
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

BusinessHealth careSenior Care

How To Achieve Sustainable Growth For Your Home Healthcare Business

February 18, 2020
Health careMedical Records

Patient Misidentification: Just How Damaging Is It?

August 2, 2019

Class Helps People Help Elders

February 28, 2012
Health careWellness

5 Tips To Squeeze Time Out To Exercise During Holidays

April 17, 2020
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?