Inside A "Pill Mill"

A Houston medical clinic is in the business of managing pain. But in reality, it's a front for a far more dangerous operation.

"When I saw it the first time, it shocked me," one former employee told CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian.

The former employee, who asked for anonymity, said inside the clinic, prescriptions for dangerously addictive drugs like the painkiller Vicodin, the muscle-relaxer Soma and the anxiety drug Xanax are illegally handed out like candy.

"In reality, it's drug-dealing," the former employee said.

Law enforcement sources estimate there may be tens of thousands of these so-called "pill mills" operating nationwide.

CBS News sent a healthy woman inside the clinic, posing as a new patient in pain, with a hidden camera rolling.

"Do you have your medical records? MRI records?" the receptionist asked.

"No," the patient replied.

"Can I see your ID, please?" the receptionist said.

It turns out the patient didn't need any records — just cash.

"Our office visits are $80," the receptionist told her.

Once paid, an attendant checked the patient's weight and blood pressure. Then it was time to meet the doctor.

"What's your name?" the patient asked.

"Manuel Hernandez," was the reply.

"You are the doctor here?" the patient asked.

"Yes, with my boss," Hernandez said.

In violation of Texas law, there's no physical exam and no review of medical history. But getting drugs of choice was easy.

"Can I get Vicodin or Lorcet?" our undercover patient asked.

"You said Lorcet and Soma," Hernandez replied. "You want that?"

"Yes," she replied.

Is this the kind of stuff the Drug Enforcement Administration would like to put an end to?

"Absolutely, absolutely," Joe Rannazzisi, a top DEA official, told Keteyian. "What they're doing is way outside the scope of medical practice."

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Watch: "Are You A Real Doctor?"
Primary Source Blog: The Confrontation
Extended Interview: Pill Mills & Bad Doctors

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And increasingly, it appears, outside the reach of the DEA. Despite a recent rash of arrests, only 249 doctors have been arrested by the agency in the last four years.

"These guys are very very good at staying under the radar," said Dr. Andrea Trescot, a leading pain specialist. "It is a huge societal problem. What they're causing are patients to get addicted and potentially die."

In all, CBS News sent four people into the Houston clinic. Same scenario: no exam, no records. And the same result.

The prescriptions were all faxed to a nearby pharmacy, where we got hundreds of Vicodin, Xanax, Soma — 720 pills total, each and every one prescribed by one man.

Keteyian caught up with him in the parking lot at the end of another very busy day.

"Why are you prescribing painkillers to people who go in there?" he asked.

"Ask my boss," Hernandez said.

"No, you're the guy who's doing it. Why are you prescribing painkillers without physical examination and without looking at anybody's records? Why is that? Are you even a doctor, Dr. Hernandez?" Keteyian asked.

Fact is, Manuel Hernandez is not a licensed doctor. So how did we get all our pills? Against federal law, the clinic put them in the name of a doctor we never met — and couldn't find.

State records show the clinic was set up by still another doctor, Rodolfo Giraldi, who failed to respond to numerous requests for comment. But right after the first letter, the door was locked — his clinic closed for good.

However, there's nothing to keep him from opening at another location — and going right back into the drug business.

[MySistersKeeper]

Project My Sister's Keeper-The Tammy Boyet-Sawyer Initiative

Since losing my older sister, Tammy Marie Boyet-Sawyer, in January 2009 to an accidental multi-drug intoxication (prescription narcotic & antidepressant) overdose, I have felt compelled to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to save someone elses sister or family member from their deadly prescription drug addiction.

There is so much to do. I need your help.

I have created "Project My Sister's Keeper-The Tammy Boyet Sawyer Initiative" to use as a tool to educate, support, and promote the legislative changes necessary to End The Deadly Prescription Addiction Epidemic that is plaguing the State of Missouri and our Nation.

Are you familiar at all with addiction and addiction recovery? If so you have no doubt heard the term "rock bottom". Families of addicts who are desperate to save their loved one are commonly told for an addict to want to get treatment THEY MUST REACH "ROCK BOTTOM". For an addict, their rock bottom is usually the place where the seriousness of their situation is finally realized. It is the place where and time that they are no longer able to live in denial of the situation.

Well, I ask each of you then, where's our "ROCK BOTTOM? When do we as citizens and leaders of Missouri stand up in a unified voice and say that WE WILL NO LONGER ENABLE PRESCRIPTION ADDICTION by our inaction.

How many more lives are we willing to lose to accidental prescription drug overdose? How many more innocent victims lives will we allow to be forever changed by the destruction that is addiction.

WE CAN CHANGE the statistics. WE CAN BREAK the cycle & start saving lives by getting this important legislation passed and enacted as law.

Will you join us in support of these life changing and life saving efforts?

Sincerely and Respectfully Yours,
Project My Sisters Keeper
Crystal Boyet-Hampton ([e-mail])

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Project-My-Sisters-Keeper

[stuart178]

I AM CURRENTLY GOING TO A PILL MILL IN HOUSTON EACH MONTH SINCE LAST YEAR AND CBS DID FAIL TO MENTION WHAT PILL MILLS DO. NOW THIS ONE DOCTOR THEY INVESTIGATED MAY NOT HAVE PHYSICALLY EXAMED THE PAITENT BUT IT IS A FACT THAT THEY DO REQUIRE MEDICAL RECORDS ON THE SECOND VISIT. WHEN I WENT TO MY PILL MILL THE FIRST TIME MY DOCTOR DID TOUCH MY BACK AND MAKE ME WALK ON MY HEELS AND THEN LOOKED AT MY MRI AND XRAYS BECAUSE I BROUGHT THEM THE FIRST VISIT, BUT THERE ARE SIGNS THAT SAYS MED RECORDS REQUIRED 2ND VISIT. THESE DOCTORS ARE SUPPOSE TO TREAT PAITENTS FOR PAIN ETC. THE GOVERNMENT WANTS THEM TO BE STRICT ON WHAT THEY GIVE TO PPL. I DONT KNOW ABOUT YALL CRYBABIES BUT I WANT A DOCTOR THAT WILL GIVE ME WHAT I WANT IF NOT TO THE EXTREME REQUEST OF THE MEDS I WANT BUT I HAVE A RIGHT TO CHOSE MY MEDICINE AND PILL MILLS MAY BE AFTER MONEY BUT THEY ACTUALLY HELP THE PAITENTS MORE WHO WANTS TO PAY A DR 300 DOLLARS AND HE GIVES YOU TRAMDOL OR PAY A PILL MILL DR 80 DOLLARS AND GET 120 LORCETS.

[dcstudio1]

I live in Houston and I suffer from chronic pain I also recently lost my insurance. I can no longer afford to see my high-dollar pain specialist so without these so called "pill mills" it would cost upwards of $1600-$2000 per month in order for me to see the Dr. and purchase my medication. A visit to the alledged "pill mill" once per month runs me about $125, including prescriptions. My condidtion is also well documented, and CBS failed to mention that medical records ARE required (i.e. X-RAY, MRI, and lab reports) by the 2nd visit. I was also given a complete exam at my "pill mill." I was seen by a nurse practitioner, not a M.D. but many large medical facilities alos practice this way. I mean, really, how many years has it been since we were able to have a one on one relationship with our physician? The healthcare industry just doesn't work like that anymore.
I won't deny that there are those who are abusing this system, but those of us who have legitimate issues but lack insurance shouldn't be made to suffer both physically and financially because of this.

[lizale07]

You are so right! What about all of the spam that lets you 'supposedly' get any drug you want online? I just heard about how bad CBS's ratings are for Katie. they're predicting that she'll be gone by December this year. She should have stayed on the Today show where people actually liked her and her fluff pieces. She started out with over 13 mil viewers and now is at an all time low for the network at just above 5 mil. Another example of the acts of desperation to try to regain their ratings to, at the minimum, status quote. If they would get the whole story, they'd be more credible. I'd sue them, if it were me they attacked and slandered!

[candacr2]

at work spam fax received: MYFIRSTPHARMA.COM
Promised to allow you to order prescription medication without a prescription .......
Another example of criminal action that needs to be checked out by CBS News.

[lizale07]

I have a serious condition and I have been to several other pain mgmt. Dr.'s. One such DR. went so far as to tell me that, if I refused to have surgery,(which I don't heal well from and have had numerous complications from) that I would have to stop seeing him.
This Dr. has helped me control my pain. Surgery was not a guarantee of relief from it. Knowing that for my condition and the method of how this surgery was to be performed, I was told it would take me up to 18 months to heal from. There was also the fact that the surgery would have a success rate of only 30%. I would like to live to see my children grow up and not risk loosing my life on an operating table. This DR. has compassion for his patients. He has treated my children and he talks to you about things you can do to try and alleviate the pain. CBS should be sued for putting out a fictitious story and not the whole story. He refused to comment? Well based on what CBS CHOSE to air in their story, I don't blame him. Would you, knowing that this sorry network is doing nothing more than trying to boost their ratings? I HOPE you are sued for slandering this good DR.'s name. What about all of your "expert's". How about investigating what their methods are and what they do to help their patients. How many of them just about force their patients to have surgery, knowing that the likelihood that it will not work! This is a good DR. and man! Get ALL the facts, not just what you think will make headlines.

[extxcop]

What CBS did is illegal. As a 10 year veteran cop, I can tell you that if this were done in my city, CBS's UC's and reporter would be facing arrest.


FRAUD- OBTAINING A PRESCRIPTION BY- CHAPTER 481 Texas Health & Safety Code

(d) An offense under Subsection (a) is:
(1) a felony of the second degree if the controlled
substance that is the subject of the offense is listed in Schedule I
or II;
(2) a felony of the third degree if the controlled
substance that is the subject of the offense is listed in Schedule
III or IV; and
(3) a Class A misdemeanor if the controlled substance
that is the subject of the offense is listed in Schedule V.

[Rebecca108]

sean cheng the former employee, I wonder how many prescriptions he wrote out of this same clinic as a P.A. until he was let go for not takeing his time with the pateints......now where is he. another pain clinic ?????????

[Rebecca108]

Registrant Actions - 2002 "James C. Womack, M.D.; Denial of ...... surrender his DEA and Texas State controlled substance registrations. ... to his abuse of alcohol and Soma, a non-controlled but addictive substance. ...

[Rebecca108]

I don't want you to serve me and I know my business too but it seems you are wrong on this sory honey! I wouldnt be be caught dead in Alamaba.