Two West Brookfield physicians and their medical practice are now facing criminal charges after prosecutors said they wrote improper prescriptions and billed Medicaid for the associated visits. A Worcester County grand jury indicted Dr. Jeffrey J. Jones, Dr. James C. Wilson III and West Brookfield Family Practice on allegations that they submitted false MassHealth claims tied to those prescriptions. Prosecutors say the doctors handed out combinations of opioids, stimulants and benzodiazepines without legitimate medical purpose, including to patients with known substance use disorders. Earlier this month, the Drug Enforcement Administration suspended both doctors’ authority to prescribe controlled substances.
Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office, as reported by Boston 25 News, said a Worcester County grand jury returned eight counts each of illegal prescribing of controlled substances against Jones and Wilson, along with one count each of Medicaid false claims. Prosecutors allege those prescriptions led pharmacies to submit false claims to MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program, and that the practice itself billed for office visits tied to the allegedly illegal prescriptions.
“Jones and Wilson repeatedly failed to meet accepted medical standards when prescribing controlled substances,” prosecutors wrote, according to Boston 25 News. Investigators say some patients were kept on multiple controlled substances for years, even during periods when they were not seen by the practice, and that some had prior overdoses or documented substance use disorders.
How the state has handled similar cases
Campbell’s Medicaid Fraud Division has brought a string of illegal prescribing and MassHealth billing cases in recent years, with some prosecutions ending in guilty pleas and criminal sentences. WCVB reports that the office uses both criminal and civil tools to hold providers accountable and to recover funds for the state.
Legal implications
Charges for illegal prescribing and Medicaid false claims can bring criminal penalties, federal administrative sanctions such as loss of DEA registration, and civil exposure including restitution to MassHealth. The Attorney General’s office regularly announces indictments and settlements in MassHealth fraud matters, highlighting the risk of both criminal prosecution and significant financial penalties in this arena, according to Mass.gov.
What’s next
The case will now move through Worcester County courts as the indictment is processed. Prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing. The defendants are expected to be summoned for arraignment, and future court filings should lay out the next steps as the case advances.
