EXHORBITANT PRICES OF SOME PAIN. THE COST FOR INTENSIFYING DRUGS MADE BY FARMS HAVE SKYROCKETED INCREASING INQUIRIES REGARDING FRAUD ABUSE AND INDIVIDUAL SECURITY. CURRENTLY AMONG THOSE PATIENTS WISHED TO WARN OTHERS NOT TO FALL UNDER THE EXACT SAME CATCH THAT SHE DID. BELOW'' S 2 PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR PAM ZEKMAN. OH, MY GOD. Reporter: SHIRLEY FOX HAD STICKER SHOCK WHEN SHE RECOGNIZED THE PRESCRIPTION HANKER HER FIBROMYALGIA PRICE $645 FOR A 4- OUNCE CONTAINER. THE EXPENSE PUT HER OVER THE LIMITATION HER MEDICARE PART D WOULD PAY FOR MEDICATION PROTECTION. AS WELL AS I SAID OH, NO.WHAT AM I
GOING TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE I TIN'' T AFFORD TO PAY FOR MEDICINE? Press reporter: IT WAS A SUBSTANCE DISCOMFORT LOTION PRESCRIBED BY DR. ARA VAN GOPAL. SHE STATED HIS ASSISTANT TOLD HER. HE SAID YOU DON'' T NEED TO CONCERN ABOUT PAYING FOR IT. IT'' S COMPLIMENTARY. I SAID OKAY. Press reporter: IN ALL FIVE CONTAINERS SHOWED UP BILLING MEDICARE A TOTAL OF GREATER THAN $3,000. THIS PHARMACOLOGIST MADE THE COMPOUND OF LIDOCAINE LOTIONS AND ANOTHER COMPONENT. SHE SAID SHE DIDN'' T THINK THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL GOT IT OR RECOMMEND IT. DID THE PHYSICIAN SUGGEST IT? PATEL SAID HE FILLS UP 15 PRESCRIPTIONS A DAY FOR THE CREAM WHICH COULD AMOUNT TO ABOUT $2.5 MILLION A YEAR. DID YOU ACTUALLY ATTEMPT THIS? I TRIED IT. DIDN'' T WORK. Press reporter: AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR TALE FOR THE EXAMINER GENERAL'' S WORKPLACE. PATIENTS ARE BASICALLY DUPED RIGHT INTO TRYING THESE MEDICATIONS.Reporter: A CURRENT
OIG RECORD CAUTIONS OF FRAUD AS WELL AS SECURITY WORRY ABOUT SUBSTANCE MEDICATIONS AS WELL AS MEDICARE SPENDING ON SUBSTANCE TOPICAL MEDICATIONS HAS RAISED FROM 6 MILLION TO$224 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF EVEN MORE THAN 3,000%. IN REGARDS TO FRAUDULENCE IT APPEARS THAT WE ' RE LOSING HUNDREDS OF MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THESE MEDICALLY UNNECESSARY COMPOUNDED MEDICATIONS. Reporter: IT LOOKS LIKE IT ' S A MEDICARE RIP-OFF OR FRAUD. IS'IT? NO. OUR ITEM WORKS. IT ' S NOT A SCAMS. Reporter: PATEL CLAIMS HE NEEDS TO BILL$645 A CONTAINER TO ABIDE BY INDUSTRY STANDARDS.NO, NO. I ' M NOT OVERCHARGING.
IT ' S THE STANDARD WHOLESALE'COST. Press reporter: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS PHARMACOLOGY EXPERTS ESTIMATE A– IT SETS YOU BACK CONCERNING$150 TO MAKE THE CREAM AND An AFFORDABLE FEE WOULD HAVE TO DO WITH$300. ONE PERSON CLAIMED IT WAS AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY. PAM ZEKMAN, CBS 2 DETECTIVES. PATEL HAS ACTUALLY SINCE TURNED AROUND THE CHARGES ON FOX ' S MEDICARE PLAN. THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL DID NOT TALK WITH United States.
