Maj. Romeatrius Moss was sentenced this week after pleading guilty last year to a kickback scheme that defrauded TriCare.
"Moss solicited and received $73,823.06 in return for referring prescriptions for members of the U.S. military to compounding pharmacies that were reimbursed by TRICARE," the Department of Justice announced in a press release.
Compounding pharmacies change the ingredients in prescription drugs tailored to individual patients. For some patients, there are legitimate reasons to go to compounding pharmacies because they may have allergies or other sensitivities to off the shelf generic prescription drugs.
However, in this case, Moss, who is an Air Force nurse, "gave military members pre-printed prescription pads and induced them to ask their doctors for specific compounded drugs." She then made sure her patients went to specific pharmacies to receive these drugs, which were then compensated by TRICARE and a kickback payment was provided to Moss in exchange for her referral.
This type of kickback scheme is illegal.
U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced her to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release. She must also pay TRICARE $622,459.00 which was the total amount of kickbacks she received. She also surrendered her residence, Porsche, and Fleetwood Pace Arrow Winnebago as a part of the plea deal.