What Will Happen if My DEA Registration Is Suspended or Revoked?

 Posted on June 26, 2023 in DEA

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is responsible for regulating the use of controlled substances in the United States. Doctors, pharmacists, and other medical professionals who work with controlled substances will be required to maintain a DEA registration. This registration is crucial, as it will allow a professional to prescribe, administer, or dispense certain medications to patients. Unfortunately, there are some situations where a medical provider may be accused of violating DEA regulations or other laws related to controlled substances, and this could lead to a suspension or revocation of a DEA registration. It is important for medical professionals to understand the potential consequences they may face in these situations and how they can defend against the loss of their controlled substance regulation.

Consequences of a DEA Suspension or Revocation

The primary way a person will be affected by a suspended or revoked DEA registration is that they will no longer be allowed to prescribe or dispense controlled substances. In these situations, a doctor or other provider would be required to refer patients to other providers who will be allowed to issue the prescriptions they need. The inability to write prescriptions could force a provider to discontinue some or all of the services they provide. These restrictions can lead to a decline in patient growth, ultimately impacting a practice's overall revenue and reputation.

Other consequences a provider may face include:

• Loss of a medical license - The loss of a DEA registration may trigger an investigation by the Illinois Medical Board, the Illinois Board of Nursing, the Illinois Board of Pharmacy, or another board that licenses medical professionals. If a board determines that disciplinary action is necessary, it may decide to suspend, revoke, or decline to renew a person's medical license.

• Loss of hospital privileges - Doctors who provide care for patients at hospitals may no longer be able to do so if they lose their DEA registration. A hospital board may determine that the actions that led to the suspension or revocation indicate that the doctor cannot provide the quality of care that patients deserve, and it may then disallow the doctor from working with patients in the hospital.

• Loss of Medicare/Medicaid provider status - DEA enforcement actions may prevent a medical professional from providing services to patients who are covered by Medicare or Medicaid. This can place significant limitations on the types of patients a doctor may be able to treat.

• Loss of board certification - Providers may receive certifications from medical specialty boards that indicate their level of experience, skill, and professionalism. A DEA suspension or revocation may cause a board to revoke a person's certification, and this may damage their reputation.

• Difficulty renewing or reapplying for a DEA registration - A professional may be able to take steps to regain their controlled substance registration by demonstrating that they have met all requirements put in place by the DEA. However, this process can be difficult, and it is often much harder to receive approval to prescribe or dispense controlled substances if a registration had previously been suspended or revoked.

• Criminal prosecution - A DEA registration suspension or revocation will usually occur because a person is accused of mishandling controlled substances or engaging in drug diversion. These accusations may lead to criminal charges for offenses such as unlawful prescribing or unlawful dispensing of controlled substances. A conviction may lead to serious penalties, including a prison sentence and tens of thousands of dollars in fines.

Contact Our Illinois DEA Registration Defense Lawyer

Because of the many ways the loss of a DEA registration may affect a medical professional, it is important to work with an experienced lawyer to determine how to respond to DEA investigations, raids, or administrative hearings. At The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc., our Illinois controlled substance registration defense attorney can help providers understand the best ways to protect their rights and avoid penalties that could affect their ability to practice. Contact us at 630-310-1267 to arrange a complimentary consultation.