Physician summarily suspended for overprescribing controlled substances
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has immediately suspended the license to practice as a medical doctor of Jesus Carreon Neri, Jr., M.D.
On April 4, 2016, LARA personally served an order summarily suspending Dr. Neri’s license pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the summary suspension of a health professional’s license when the public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action.
LARA filed an Administrative Complaint in this matter, which includes allegations that Dr. Neri overprescribed commonly abused and diverted controlled substances, such as oxycodone, for other than lawful medical purposes.
The complaint alleges that Neri traveled from his home in Rogers City to clinics in Sterling Heights and Detroit to write prescriptions for large quantities of controlled substances based on patient requests for specific commonly abused drugs, rather than medical necessity.
An important recommendation from Governor Snyder’s Michigan Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Task Force called for a more comprehensive enforcement program against licensed health professionals who participate in overprescribing.
As a result, LARA and the Department of Attorney General in January began a collaborative effort to identify, investigate and seek enhanced sanctions against licensed health care professionals who overprescribe dangerous drugs for other than lawful medical purposes. The pilot program is currently working closely with the health professional boards who regulate prescribers, such as the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery.
“This program aims to put a stop to the serious health problem of overprescribing and the medical professionals who abuse their trust and authority,” said LARA Director Mike Zimmer.
“There is no room in the health professions for those who enable drug seeking behaviors that can and do lead to addiction,” said Attorney General Bill Schuette. “An intense focus on identifying... these individuals is an essential step to eliminating the prescription drug abuse epidemic in the state of Michigan and across the country.”
In 2015, Neri was the second highest prescriber of oxycodone 30 mg in Michigan, surpassed only by Livonia-area physician Fanny A. Dela Cruz, M.D. LARA summarily suspended Dela Cruz’s license on March 3. In 2015 alone, Neri and Dela Cruz each authorized prescriptions for more than 400,000 tablets of oxycodone 30 mg, with per-tablet street value estimated at $10-$40.
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