Prescriptions Archives

Social Justice

Fraud Still Plagues Medicare’s Prescription Drug Program

Medicare has increased oversight of its prescription drug program but many holes remain, allowing fraud and abuse to proliferate. Questionable practices were found at 1,400 pharmacies, which collectively billed Medicare $2.3 billion in 2014.

Charles Ornstein

Social Justice

The Federal Government Finally Releases Data on Doctors’ Prescribing Patterns

The move follows an investigation showing that Medicare did little to find dangerous prescribing by doctors to seniors and the disabled. It is also part of the government’s new push to bring transparency to taxpayer-supported medical care.

Charles Ornstein

Social Justice

Prescription Painkiller Abuse Linked With Heroin

As states crack down hard on pain prescriptions, some are seeing a resurgence in abuse of the harder stuff.

Lauren Kirchner

Social Justice

How a Fanny Pack Mix-Up Unraveled a Massive Medicare Fraud Scheme

Two secretaries in a doctor’s office have pleaded guilty and a pharmacy owner faces charges in a scam that Medicare allowed to thrive for more than two years.

Charles Ornstein

News in Brief

The Dangers of Criminalizing Pregnancy Outcomes

New legislation in Tennessee has implications much wider than the use of illegal drugs by pregnant mothers-to-be.

Lauren Kirchner

Social Justice

Medicare’s Drug Program Needs Stronger Protections Against Fraud

A new report finds that more than half of insurance companies in Medicare’s drug program haven’t reported fraud cases to the government. The findings echo an earlier investigation that found fraud flourishing in the program.

Charles Ornstein

Social Justice

Caught Up in a Medicare Drug Fraud

The long list of medications on Joyce Heap’s insurance forms didn’t look right. It turns out they weren’t—and Medicare didn’t seem to care.

Tracy Weber and Charles Ornstein

Social Justice

How Medicare’s Failure to Track Doctors Wastes Billions on Name-Brand Drugs

The failure to track doctors who shun cheaper generics racks up huge costs for taxpayers in Medicare Part D, which fills one of every four U.S. prescriptions.

Charles Ornstein, Tracy Weber & Jennifer LaFleur

Social Justice

Are You Overpaying for Name-Brand Drugs When Generics Would Be Just as Effective?

With billions in potential savings for Medicare at stake, we asked drug experts and practitioners alike why more doctors don’t recommend generics when they can.

Charles Ornstein and Tracy Weber