United States DEA Nurse Practitioner Investigation Attorney

Lawyers Helping Nurses and Nurse Practitioners Across the U.S. Defend Their Controlled Substance Registration

Medical providers that prescribe, administer, or dispense controlled substances can sometimes find themselves under investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Nurses and nurse practitioners may be suspected of offenses such as drug diversion or conspiracy to possess or distribute controlled substances, and the DEA may take enforcement actions such as suspending or revoking their controlled substance registration. To ensure that their rights are protected during these investigations, nurses should work with a lawyer who can provide them with legal representation and advise them of their options.

The attorneys of The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc. have years of experience representing doctors, nurses, pharmacies, and other medical providers in DEA investigations and enforcement actions. We can help you defend against any claims of wrongdoing, and we will fight to make sure you are able to keep your DEA registration and avoid consequences to your medical license and your career.

DEA Inspections and Investigations of Nurse Practitioners and Nurses

DEA audits and inspections are routinely performed to ensure that a medical office and its personnel are following the proper procedures and are in compliance with all laws and regulations related to controlled substances. The DEA may also investigate nurse practitioners based on suspicions about their pattern of prescribing drugs, or it may look into the procedures nurses follow when administering controlled substances to patients. An audit, inspection, or investigation may review patient records and the patterns of prescribing and administering medications. The DEA may also inspect the inventory of controlled substances a provider keeps on hand, take samples, and review records related to ordering, processing, or disposing of medications.

In many cases, the DEA's primary concern will be the inappropriate prescribing or dispensing of controlled substances. Some "red flags" that it may look for will include whether a practice regularly serves patients who pay in cash or travel long distances to see a provider. If records show that a nurse practitioner has prescribed controlled substances in large proportions when compared to other types of drugs, this may be an indication that these prescriptions are not medically necessary. Nurses may also be targeted if the DEA believes that they did not take steps to make sure controlled substances are only provided to patients for a legitimate medical reason.

An investigation may lead the DEA to take a variety of actions against a nurse or nurse practitioner. It may issue an Order to Show Cause and seek to suspend or revoke a provider's controlled substance registration, or it may deny the renewal of a DEA registration. DEA agents may also ask a person to surrender their DEA registration while stating that they can avoid further consequences by doing so. However, the loss of a DEA registration will likely lead a state nursing board to suspend or revoke a person's nursing license, and it can lead to other consequences as well, such as loss of provider status with insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Contact a National DEA Nurse Investigation Lawyer

If you are a nurse or nurse practitioner who has been contacted by the DEA, The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc. can provide you with legal representation to help you avoid consequences to your DEA registration and your nursing license. We will work with you to determine what information should be turned over and how you should respond to any questions or requests, and we will fight to make sure you are not improperly penalized for the ways you prescribe or administer controlled substances to patients. With our help, you can avoid consequences to your practice and your career. Contact our office today at 630-310-1267 to set up a free consultation and learn more about how we can help with your case.