Monica Preston, a nurse practitioner from Colorado Springs, has agreed to pay $90,000 to resolve allegations related to the improper prescribing of controlled substances. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced this settlement, which involves claims that Preston unlawfully prescribed dangerous opioids and drug combinations in violation of the Controlled Substances Act and False Claims Act.
The allegations state that while employed at the now-closed Colorado Institute for Pain Management, Preston issued prescriptions in dosages and combinations that were outside her professional practice. These prescriptions were allegedly not reasonable or necessary and lacked legitimate medical purposes. Furthermore, it is claimed that she misrepresented these prescriptions as appropriate to the Center for Medicare Services.
As part of the settlement, Preston will pay damages and civil penalties amounting to $90,000. Additionally, she has agreed to permanently relinquish her Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration, barring her from prescribing controlled substances in the future.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch emphasized the importance of adhering to established prescribing guidelines: “Nurse practitioners entrusted with prescribing authority must be careful not to ignore red flags that suggest that the opioids they prescribe are being misused or abused.” He added that accountability would be enforced when guidelines are not followed.
Jonathan Pullen, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division, stated: “The DEA is proud to relentlessly pursue practitioners not acting in their patients’ best interests.” He acknowledged collaborative efforts by federal partners in ensuring that Preston can no longer legally prescribe such substances.
Linda T. Hanley from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General highlighted their commitment: “This settlement highlights HHS-OIG’s commitment to work closely with our state and federal partners to protect federal health care programs and the people served by those programs.”
It is important to note that these claims remain allegations; by settling this matter, Preston has not admitted any liability.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA's Rocky Mountain Division alongside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Ross managed this case.
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