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DEA Investigations Against Doctors and Pharmacies DEA Letter of Admonition

Did you receive a DEA letter of admonition?

For any pharmacy, pharmacist, or pharmacy owner, a DEA audit can have a lot of consequences. There are a number of consequences – and the severity of them can vary widely. It’s possible for you to face criminal prosecution, and also fines, and even long-term imprisonment. On the lower end of the scale of potential punishments is a Letter of Admonition. This is issued by the DEA – typically, when they do an audit – and uncover minor record keeping violations that don’t warrant a civil or criminal liability. Even though getting a letter of admonition doesn’t have any direct consequences – it shouldn’t be ignored.

If your pharmacy gets a Letter of Admonition from the DEA, it means the DEA has found cause to believe that your pharmacy isn’t in full compliance with the law. This means you really need to get your pharmacy compliance program revised, and correctly implemented. Even if the facts stated in the letter are incorrect, the simple fact the DEA believes your pharmacy is non-compliant means you have room for improvement. If the agents are correct that your pharmacy wasn’t compliant – then you have to address these issues promptly in order to avoid potential liability in new audits or investigations.

What’s a DEA Letter of Admonition

DEA letters of admonitions are essentially reprimands. They are a notice that a compliance issue was found during a DEA audit. It’s a warning that you have to rectify issues. It is among the least severe of administrative actions the DEA can take, after auditing, or inspecting, a pharmacy. There are no penalties necessarily, with Letters of Admonitions. It doesn’t even require that there be any follow up actions. Pharmacies that get these letters need to take them with immense seriousness – and take actions in case the DEA does a follow up audit.

George FernandezGeorge Fernandez
14:16 30 Apr 24
Excellent 10 out of 10, Helped resolve my case. Jeremy explained everything and made everything easy to understand.
RajRaj
21:33 24 Apr 24
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
Yelva Saint-PreuxYelva Saint-Preux
19:26 19 Apr 24
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Katherine SunKatherine Sun
18:08 18 Apr 24
my lawyer is Alex Zhik. Efficient, patient and professional
Nun yaNun ya
17:48 18 Apr 24
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Keisha ParrisKeisha Parris
20:45 15 Mar 24
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
Taïko BeautyTaïko Beauty
16:26 15 Mar 24
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
K MarK Mar
01:37 25 Jan 24
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
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The DEA usually issues a letter of admonition when it uncovers record keeping issues. Based on the law, registered pharmacies have an immense burden placed on them when it comes to record keeping. The requirements, regarding record keeping, apply to matters such as:

  • Compliance programs
  • Compliance documentation
  • Compliance implementation
  • Training of staff with compliance programs
  • Drug ordering record keeping
  • Drug inventory record keeping
  • Electronic/hardcopy prescription record keeping
  • Medical refill necessity
  • Billing compliance
  • DEA registration compliance

Not all record keeping violations result in Letters of Admonition. Some violations are more severe, and can lead to administrative actions. For example, more serious issues can lead to civil/criminal investigations. If you get a Letter of Admonition, you can relax – knowing that things are ok for now – but you have to take actions. You have to ensure that the NEXT DEA AUDIT doesn’t uncover repeat violations.

What are the consequences of getting a DEA letter of admonition?

There are no direct consequences of getting a letter of admonition from the DEA. The main thing is that the DEA is now looking at you. There is no response obligation, or penalties associated with the letter of admonition. As a result, most pharmacies – who get a letter of admonition, continue operating normally. This is not advisable. Unless your violation was a one-off error, and there is no risk of repetition, then the violation must be addressed. Depending on the nature of your violation, this could mean things such as:

  • Looking at your pharmacy compliance policies
  • Give additional training to your team members

It’s important to realize that letters of admonitions don’t mean that the other aspects of your pharmacy are fine. It could be that DEA agents overlooked other issues, or perhaps their audit was only focused on specific issues. Even if the violation is only minor, it can be wise to conduct a comprehensive compliance audit – and determine whether other updates/additions might be needed.

After your pharmacy gets a letter of admonition, there are a number of things you should do.

First – if your pharmacy isn’t in compliance with all the federal laws, your priority should be to come into full compliance. Failing to the address the compliance issue which was noted in the letter of admonition could result in additional risks during subsequent audits. When the DEA agents return, they will FIRST look to see if the prior issues were addressed. If the issues haven’t been addressed, this will be detrimental. It’s important to remember that the letter of admonition goes on file at the DEA. In other words – it’s not going away. It’s going to be part of your permanent record, and if there are further subsequent audits which find shortcomings – this letter can be used against you – since now, there is a history of violations.

What should I do after getting a letter of admonition from the DEA?

There’s a number of things you can do and should do.

Conduct a compliance audit: It might be relevant to conduct a comprehensive compliance audit, which is focused on all deficiencies in your pharmacy. Just because ALL of the issues your pharmacy might have in this DEA audit weren’t discovered – doesn’t mean none exist. As a pharmacy owner, you have to do a comprehensive review of your pharmacy compliance program, and remedy any shortcomings.

Update your compliance program: Once you’ve assessed your compliance needs, you can then transition to focus on updating your pharmacy’s compliance program entirely. You should hire a DEA defense attorney who understands what the federal guidelines are so you can make your compliance program up to date.

Train your pharmacy personnel: You should train your pharmacy personnel after you’ve updated your compliance program. Training must be provided to all pharmacy personnel. It’s important that all of this training be documented, so you can demonstrate your willingness to be in full compliance with the DEA.

Setup a program to identify future violations: As part of your compliance program, its important to create a framework to monitor your pharmacy’s compliance. If other record keeping violations occur, you must catch them before the DEA identifies it during the audit. Monitoring programs that involve protocols, can be helpful.

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