Fairhaven Pharmacy To Pay $20,000 Civil Penalty

BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office in Boston reached a civil settlement today with PharmaHealth Specialty Pharmacy in Fairhaven, Mass., in connection with allegations that the company violated federal regulations related to the sale of prescription drugs.

The government contended that PharmaHealth violated the Controlled Substances Act by dispensing controlled substances to physicians instead of patients, failing to keep complete and accurate records of controlled substances, and failing to maintain readily retrievable records of controlled substances. PharmaHealth has agreed to pay $20,000 in settlement of these claims.

“The mishandling of prescription drugs is of great concern to federal authorities,” said United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz. “For the sake of patient safety, and to ensure that medications end up in the hands of patients rather than addicts, we will continue to monitor pharmacies to make certain that they abide by regulations while conducting business.”

U.S. Attorney Ortiz and Michael J. Ferguson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The investigation was conducted by Diversion Investigators with the DEA’s Boston Field Division. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of Ortiz’s Civil Division.