Kirkbride Center Agrees to Fine to Resolve Claims of Failing to Maintain Accurate Records of Opioids

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that CoreCare Behavioral Health Management, Inc., which does business as “Kirkbride Center,” a health care facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay the United States $160,200 in penalties to resolve allegations that it failed properly to account for highly addictive and frequently abused opioids, including methadone.

In addition to paying $160,200 in settlement to resolve the government’s allegations, Kirkbride Center has agreed to implement new practices and procedures to ensure accountability of its controlled substances, including the purchase of a new software system for secure and automated dispensing and tracking of methadone in clinical treatment settings.

This settlement arises from a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation into Kirkbride Center’s opioid dispensing practices between 2014 and 2017. In response to the Department of Justice’s focus on combatting the opioid epidemic, the DEA has continued to conduct inspections and audits of pharmacies and narcotics treatment programs throughout the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, including Kirkbride Center.

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) applies to all registered handlers of controlled substances, including pharmacies and narcotics treatment programs, and subjects them to strict requirements regarding inventory control and recordkeeping. These requirements ensure that DEA-licensed pharmacies and narcotics treatment programs account for controlled substances from the time they are purchased until they are dispensed to patients. The United States alleges that Kirkbride Center violated the CSA by negligently failing to keep accurate records and inventories associated with methadone liquid and tablets that Kirkbride Center purchased and dispensed for its narcotics treatment program between 2014 and 2017.

“This settlement demonstrates my office’s continued commitment to combating the opioid epidemic on all fronts,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Part of our strategy is making sure that registered opioid handlers keep accurate records of these highly addictive and potentially dangerous drugs. All individuals and facilities, large or small, licensed to dispense controlled substances are responsible for maintaining accurate records, and all will be held accountable for any failures.”

The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mark J. Sherer, with investigative assistance from auditor Denis Cooke and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Investigator Alexander Stross of the Philadelphia Field Division.