An El Paso doctor, Dr. Brian August, has agreed to a $200,000 settlement after facing allegations of healthcare fraud and illegal prescription practices. He was accused of issuing 255 prescriptions for high-risk opioids and sedatives, including morphine, fentanyl, and alprazolam, to fifteen individuals without legitimate medical purpose, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The settlement resolves claims from state and federal authorities and includes $994.22 to the Texas Medicaid Program and $44,380.55 to Medicare Part D, with the remainder as civil damages. Officials stated that the prescriptions lacked proper medical documentation and were not issued in the usual course of medical practice, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
August has given up his DEA registration and agreed not to get a new one, and he has surrendered his Texas medical license, which was already suspended. The case was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and Texas Attorney General’s Office, with U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons announcing the settlement, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
