Pharmacist Hootan Melamed Previously Charges with Fraud

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Texas Board of Pharmacy Disciplinary Action for September 2013 -February 2014

disciplinary action summaries

Interesting and Important Comments from Readers Being Posted

"Breaking News: Concierge Compounding Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Express Scripts Inc.: A Lawsuit seeking to Stop Express Script from Terminating a Compounding Pharmacy from its Network-hearing set for tomorrow August 29, 2014"

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Anonymous said...

Is this the pharmacy with registration hurdle in Idaho due to felony charge? See: http://bop.idaho.gov/board_meeting/2013-08-13and14_Minutes_Final_01-09-2014.pdf

August 28, 2014 at 10:15 AM

Anonymous said...

Very very interesting case developing here. If chemical ingredients for mixing up largely experimental compounded drugs hold separate NDCs and are covered under tier II, separate co-pays should be required for each ingredient? Otherwise, pharmacies could compound multiple active ingredients in one dosage form for the sole purpose of avoiding co-pays, particularly if the AWPs for the ingredients are sufficiently inflated?
Hard to believe I just used the acronym AWP and chemical ingredient the same sentence--in the grand American tradition, this is compounding "super-sized."

August 28, 2014 at 10:28 AM

Anonymous said...

The co-pay issue is in the self interest of the payer, i.e., controlling over utilization, but, there are other more troubling patient safety and supply chain security concerns related to paying for ingredients, versus finished pharmaceuticals.
Thinking in high-level marketing sound bites, it all sounds really good--the doctor orders a customized drug when a patient cannot use an FDA-approved product, partly the result of industry failing to invest in small market needs.
But if you scratch below the surface, there is a lot of missing information--does the doctor or insurer consider that the formulas haven't been evaluated for safety and efficacy? Even more troubling may be the chemical ingredients themselves--these white powders in jars, having traveled through global supply channels, may come with "certificates of analysis," that, at the high level marketing sound bite, sound really good too. But, displayed results may exclude criteria relevant to the dosage form made (residual solvents, microbial content), and for the criteria that are listed, the stated results may not be guaranteed by the seller. How does this white powder in a jar become a tier ii level Rx product?
You can't distill this level of necessary problem-solving, albeit for a sometimes necessary pharmacy practice, into a soundbite.

August 28, 2014 at 12:29 PM

More Breaking News: Another Lawsuit OmniPlus Pharmacy from Texas suing Express Scripts--Here is the docket/Documents are available on Pacer

Date Filed	#	Docket Text
08/25/2014	1	COMPLAINT against defendant All Defendants with receipt number 0865-4464876, in the amount of $400 Jury Demand,, filed by Alternative Medicine and Pharmacy, Inc. . (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Civil Cover Sheet, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 Original Filing Form)(King, Douglas) (Entered: 08/25/2014)
08/25/2014	2	NOTICE OF PROCESS SERVER by Plaintiff Alternative Medicine and Pharmacy, Inc. Process Server: Amy R. Post (BAK) (Entered: 08/25/2014)
08/25/2014	3	DISCLOSURE OF CORPORATION INTERESTS CERTIFICATE by Plaintiff Alternative Medicine and Pharmacy, Inc.. Parent companies: None, Subsidiaries: None, Publicly held company: None,. (BAK) (Entered: 08/25/2014)
08/25/2014	4	MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by Plaintiff Alternative Medicine and Pharmacy, Inc.. (King, Douglas) (Entered: 08/25/2014)
08/25/2014	5	MEMORANDUM in Support of Motion re 4 MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order filed by Plaintiff Alternative Medicine and Pharmacy, Inc.. (King, Douglas) (Entered: 08/25/2014)
08/25/2014		Case Opening Notification: 2 Summons(es) issued. The summons were emailed to attorney Douglas W. King. Judge Assigned: U.S. District Judge Charles A. Shaw. (BAK) (Entered: 08/25/2014)
08/25/2014	6	MOTION to Expedite Discovery by Plaintiff Alternative Medicine and Pharmacy, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit First Interrogatories, # 2 Exhibit First Document Requests, # 3 Exhibit First Requests for Admissions)(King, Douglas) (Entered: 08/25/2014)
08/25/2014		***REMARK - Judge Shaw was assigned to case before Motion for Temorary Restraining Order was filed. New judge will be assigned and new summons issued. (BAK) (Entered: 08/25/2014)
08/25/2014		Case Opening Notification: 2 Summons(es) re-issued. The summons were emailed to attorney Douglas W. King. All corporate parties must file Disclosure of Corporate Interest form. The form can be found on the court website. Judge Assigned: U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry. Attorney contacted by both Lori Miller-Young and Beth Kirkland regarding filing of memorandum stating when hearing for TRO is to be held. (BAK) (Entered: 08/25/2014)
08/26/2014	7	ORDER: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the plaintiff's motions for a temporary restraining order [# 4 ] and to expedite discovery [# 6 ] are set for a hearing on Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. in Courtroom 14-South. (Motion Hearing set for 8/28/2014 10:30 AM in Courtroom 14S before District Judge Catherine D. Perry.) Signed by District Judge Catherine D. Perry on August 26, 2014. (BRP) (Entered: 08/26/2014)
08/27/2014	8	ENTRY of Appearance by Sarah C. Hellmann for Defendants Express Scripts, Inc., Medco Health Services, Inc.. (Hellmann, Sarah) (Entered: 08/27/2014)
08/27/2014	9	ENTRY of Appearance by Kyle P. Seelbach for Defendants Express Scripts, Inc., Medco Health Services, Inc.. (Seelbach, Kyle) (Entered: 08/27/2014)
08/27/2014	10	DISCLOSURE OF CORPORATION INTERESTS CERTIFICATE by Defendant Express Scripts, Inc... (Seelbach, Kyle) (Entered: 08/27/2014)
08/27/2014	11	DISCLOSURE OF CORPORATION INTERESTS CERTIFICATE by Defendant Medco Health Services, Inc... (Seelbach, Kyle) (Entered: 08/27/2014)
08/27/2014	12	MOTION to Continue Hearing on Plaintiff's Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Expedited Discovery by Defendants Express Scripts, Inc., Medco Health Services, Inc.. (Seelbach, Kyle) (Entered: 08/27/2014)
08/27/2014	13	RESPONSE in Opposition re 12 MOTION to Continue Hearing on Plaintiff's Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Expedited Discovery filed by Plaintiff Alternative Medicine and Pharmacy, Inc.. (King, Douglas) (Entered: 08/27/2014)
08/27/2014	14	Docket Text ORDER: Re: 12 MOTION to Continue Hearing ; ORDERED DENIED, hearing will go forward as previously scheduled unless parties jointly notify the court that they have agreed to a different schedule. Signed by District Judge Catherine D. Perry on 8/27/14. (CDP) (Entered: 08/27/2014)
08/27/2014		***REMARK: Exhibits A, B, and C were placed under seal by the clerk at the request of plaintiff's counsel. Plaintiff's counsel advised the defendants have already been served with the documents. (BRP) (Entered: 08/28/2014)
08/28/2014	15	Minute Entry for proceedings held before District Judge Catherine D. Perry: Motion Hearing held on 8/28/2014 re 4 MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order filed by Alternative Medicine and Pharmacy, Inc.. Counsel inform the Court that they have reached an agreement. The Court and counsel discussed deadlines regarding Preliminary Injunction. Order to follow. (Court Reporter:G. Madden.) (FTR Gold: No.) (MCB) (Entered: 08/28/2014)