A family medicine practitioner in Three Rivers, Massachusetts, has reached a settlement to pay $220,000 in civil penalties, effectively resolving accusations of violating the Controlled Substances Act, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts on Friday.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has stated that Dr. Stephen R. Holuk, 75, has been accused of prescribing controlled substances in violation of the standard professional practice requirements mandated by law for legitimate medical purposes.
Jodi Cohen, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, stated that the settlement effectively addresses the accusations against Dr. Stephen Holuk for abusing his prescribing privileges. Cohen also emphasized that doctors who are willing to unlawfully distribute and prescribe opioids are only exacerbating the drug epidemic.
In the settlement agreement, Holuk acknowledged that he frequently prescribed schedule II-controlled substances to his patients.
Furthermore, the office confirmed that in certain instances, Holuk prescribed a combination of opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxers.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Holuk prescribed 280 opioid prescriptions for four patients, along with benzodiazepines and muscle relaxers.
Furthermore, the Justice Department revealed that Holuk had been prescribing opioids to patients without consistently conducting functional pain assessments or opioid risk assessments.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Holuk did not frequently consult the Massachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool, as mandated by state law, when prescribing Schedule II controlled substances.
U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy emphasized the risks that patients face when doctors prescribe addictive opioids outside the bounds of proper professional practice. Such actions not only put patients at risk of overdose but also hinder the ongoing efforts to combat the opioid crisis.
“Our office, along with our federal law enforcement partners, remains committed to holding medical providers accountable for their irresponsible prescribing practices, particularly when it poses a threat to the safety of our communities.”