Federal investigators describe complexity of opioid fraud cases

Investigator says drug blogs are contributing to opioid abuse problems

SAN ANTONIO – An investigator with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General said the current opioid epidemic has been decades in the making.

"We actually consume more hydrocodone than the rest of the world combined. We like our opioids in this country," said Michael Cohen, an operations officer with HHS OIG.

Cohen, a former physician's assistant, helps agents analyze difficult pharmaceutical cases against providers, pharmacies and manufacturers.

WATCH – Opioid Nation: An American Epidemic

"The thing about pharmaceutical frauds, they are very complex schemes," said Cohen.

He said adding to opioid abuse problems are drug blogs on the internet that allow users to openly post about their experiences with mixing opioids with other drugs.

"We're not talking about dark web material, this is open-source information," said Cohen.

Joseph Martin, a Houston-based assistant special agent in charge for HHS OIG, said these fraud schemes are often regional in nature.

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"Sometimes a pharmacy will take a prescription and short the prescription by two or three pills, so that one or two pills per prescription will add up over time and then those pills can be diverted," said Martin.

Cohen said that all parts of the country have some level of an opioid problem, calling Miami ground zero for the epidemic.

An HHS OIG release indicates its agents along with state and federal authorities in July carried out the largest health care fraud takedown in U.S. history.

The operation led to 412 arrests related to $1.3 billion in false billings.


About the Author:

Emmy-award winning reporter Dillon Collier joined KSAT Investigates in September 2016. Dillon's investigative stories air weeknights on the Nightbeat and on the Six O'Clock News. Dillon is a two-time Houston Press Club Journalist of the Year and a Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Reporter of the Year.