Prescription Fraud Cases

In Maryland, prescription fraud remains an area of significant concern for the government, despite new legislative efforts to reduce its occurrence. This type of fraud involves various deceptive practices aimed at obtaining controlled substances illegally, such as Oxycodone or Xanax, many times without a legitimate medical need. For those facing prescription fraud charges, understanding the severe penalties and the necessity of a robust legal defense is crucial. 

Maryland’s prescription fraud statute criminalizes the act of obtaining prescriptions through fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. Its broad language enables the State to prosecute various actions, such as: 

1. Forging signatures to acquire prescriptions;  

2. obtaining prescriptions under false pretenses; or 

3. visiting multiple healthcare providers to obtain prescriptions. 

The issue of overprescription and addiction has prompted legislation across the United States to reduce the amount of prescription fraud cases.  In Maryland, the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) has been implemented to track the prescription and distribution of controlled substances. Authorized users in Maryland have access to data from prescribers and pharmacists. Prescribers are required to review the previous four months of PDMP data before initiating new opioid treatments. The use of internet communication to share patient information between healthcare providers has allowed prescribers to identify incidents of doctor shopping and curtail overprescription. 

Additionally, insurance companies, leveraging their access to millions of claims of data, can often detect instances of fraud early and promptly report them to law enforcement.  

Those convicted of violating Maryland’s prescription fraud statute face a maximum penalty of two years in prison and/or a $1,000 fine. Often, individuals charged with prescription fraud also face related offenses such as felony possession with intent to distribute. Additional charges can significantly increase potential jail time, underscoring the importance of having a strong criminal defense team. 

The criminal defense attorneys at Silverman Thompson have handled numerous cases involving forged prescriptions both at the state and federal level. Our former state and federal prosecutors possess the expertise and experience to provide aggressive defense against these serious charges. 

If you or a loved one requires defense in a case regarding identity or credit card theft, please contact us toll-free at 800-385-2243 for a free consultation.   

Read More: Possession With Intent and Distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substances  

Read More: Drug Possession 

Disclaimer: This page is informative in nature. The information contained herein is not to be considered legal advice and there is no attorney-client relationship formed between Silverman Thompson and the reader.