Russell Hudgens, MD, and Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic in Mobile have agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Justice $74,000 to settle allegations that they violated the Controlled Substances Act.
The clinic operated a workers' compensation pharmacy with Dr. Hudgens acting as the registrant with the Drug Enforcement Agency. The DOJ alleges that the two parties failed to make a "complete and accurate record" of all controlled substances at the pharmacy, as outlined by the CSA.
"Failure to maintain proper records of narcotics like oxycodone and hydrocodone contribute to the opioid crisis," U.S. Attorney Richard Moore said in a July 20 news release.
The alleged violations took place between Jan. 1, 2019, and Aug. 5, 2019, according to the DOJ.