EXHORBITANT COSTS OF SOME PAIN. THE EXPENSE FOR COMPOUNDING DRUGS MADE BY FARMS HAVE SKYROCKETED INCREASING CONCERNS ABOUT FRAUD MISUSE AND PATIENT SECURITY. NOW ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WANTS TO WARN OTHERS NOT TO COME UNDER THE SAME TRAP THAT SHE DID. HERE'' S 2 DETECTIVE PAM ZEKMAN. OH, MY GOD. Reporter: SHIRLEY FOX HAD STICKER LABEL SHOCK WHEN SHE REALIZED THE PRESCRIPTION HANKER HER FIBROMYALGIA PRICE $645 FOR A 4- OUNCE JAR. THE PRICE PUT HER OVER THE LIMIT HER MEDICARE PART D WOULD PAY FOR MEDICATION PROTECTION. AND ALSO I STATED OH, NO. WHAT AM I GOING TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE I TIN'' T AFFORD TO SPEND FOR MEDICATION? Reporter: IT WAS A SUBSTANCE DISCOMFORT LOTION RECOMMENDED BY DR. ARA VAN GOPAL. SHE CLAIMED HIS ASSISTANT TOLD HER. HE SAID YOU DON'' T NEED TO STRESS OVER PAYING FOR IT.IT ' S COMPLIMENTARY. I SAID OKAY. Press reporter: IN ALL 5 JARS GOT HERE INVOICING MEDICARE An OVERALL OF GREATER THAN $3,000. THIS PHARMACIST MADE THE COMPOUND OF LIDOCAINE OINTMENT AND ALSO ANOTHER PERSON COMPONENT. SHE STATED SHE DIDN'' T THINK THE DOCTOR GOT IT OR PRESCRIBE IT. DID THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL SUGGEST IT? PATEL STATED HE FILLS 15 PRESCRIPTIONS A DAY FOR THE CREAM WHICH COULD ADD UP TO ABOUT $2.5 MILLION A YEAR. DID YOU ACTUALLY TRY THIS? I ATTEMPTED IT. DIDN'' T WORK. Reporter: AN ALL ALSO ACQUAINTED STORY FOR THE ASSESSOR GENERAL'' S WORKPLACE. CLIENTS ARE BASICALLY RIPPED OFF RIGHT INTO ATTEMPTING THESE MEDICINES. Reporter: A RECENT OIG RECORD CAUTIONS OF FRAUDULENCE AND ALSO SAFETY AND SECURITY INTEREST IN COMPOUND MEDICINES AS WELL AS MEDICARE INVESTING ON COMPOUND TOPICAL MEDICATIONS HAS ACTUALLY RAISED FROM 6 MILLION TO $224 MILLION, AN BOOST OF GREATER THAN 3,000%. IN REGARDS TO FRAUDULENCE IT APPEARS THAT WE'' RE LOSING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THESE CLINICALLY UNNEEDED COMPOUNDED MEDICINES. Press reporter: IT RESEMBLES IT'' S A MEDICARE RIP-OFF OR FRAUD. IS IT? NO. OUR PRODUCT FUNCTIONS. IT'' S NOT A SCAMS. Reporter: PATEL CLAIMS HE NEEDS TO CHARGE$645 A JAR TO COMPLY WITH SECTOR STANDARDS.NO, NO.
I'' M NOT OVERCHARGING. IT'' S THE AVERAGE WHOLESALE COST. Reporter: COLLEGE OF ILLINOIS PHARMACOLOGY EXPERTS ESTIMATE A– IT SETS YOU BACK REGARDING $150 TO MAKE THE LOTIONS AS WELL AS An AFFORDABLE COST WOULD BE REGARDING $300. SOMEONE SAID IT WAS AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF CASH. PAM ZEKMAN, CBS 2 DETECTIVES. PATEL HAS BECAUSE TURNED AROUND THE FEES ON FOX'' S MEDICARE STRATEGY. THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL DID NOT TALK WITH US.
