by Alex Lloyd Gross
Pennmark Pharmacy, located on the 1700 block of South Street has been ordered to pay back over $4 Million to the US Government after they were accused of billing Medicare and Medicade for proscriptions that were not filled from January 2018 through September 2020, Jaqueline Romero, US Attorney said.
These medications include but are not limited to Latuda, Sprycel, Metformin Hydrochloride, Truvada, Advair Diskus, Genvoya, Triumeq, Tremfya, Tivicay, Breo Ellipta, Anoro Ellipta, Spiriva Respimat, Januvia, Vanos 0.1% cream, Isentress, and Biktarvy. In some cases, such as for Metformin Hydrochloride and Vanos 0.1% cream, the government alleges that Jai Shri Krishna LLC billed Medicare for high-cost formulations of the medications while dispensing lower-cost formulations to beneficiaries.
Jai Shri Krishna LLC has operated Pennmark Pharmacy on South Street in southwestern Center City since January 2018. During that time, Antim Patel, a member of the LLC, has been Pennmark Pharmacy’s principal pharmacist. Jai Shri Krishna LLC and Mr. Patel will jointly pay $3,955,173.79 to the federal government to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act
Pennmark Pharmacy Inc. has separately agreed to pay $700,530 to resolve allegations that it and its principal, Engin Celik, were unjustly enriched as a result of billing Medicare and Medicaid, during the period from June 17, 2015, through January 11, 2018, for prescription medications that were not actually dispensed. These medications include but are not limited to Symbicort, Aripiprazole, Ventolin HFA, Isentress, Sensipar, Advair Diskus, Prezista, Renvela, and Flovent HFA.
“Pharmacies and pharmacists are in a position to serve their communities as vital components of our medical system; they have a responsibility not to abuse their positions for profit,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Taxpayers expect that their dollars will be spent on medications needed by Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The U.S. Attorney’s Office works every day to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not wasted on fraud and abuse.”
“Pharmacies are responsible for all claims they submit to Medicare and Medicaid,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Regional Office of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. “HHS-OIG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office take allegations of health care fraud seriously and will work together to ensure taxpayer dollars are only spent on bona fide medical claims.”