Hawkins Co. Physician Arrested in Alleged “Doctor Shopping” Operation
09/18/08 Morning Edition
http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/medical/article/hawkins_co_physician_arrested_in_alleged_doctor_shopping_operation/14097/
09/18/08 Morning Edition
http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/medical/article/hawkins_co_physician_arrested_in_alleged_doctor_shopping_operation/14097/
A former Hawkins County doctor is headed to court after being arrested in Texas Wednesday.
Jefferson, TX investigators caught Doctor John Theodore Hancock, the Hawkins County physician at the center of an alleged “doctor shopping” operation based in Northeast Tennessee. The 47-year-old doctor operates the “Hancock Family Medicine” facility. A Greeneville federal grand jury handed down an indictment against Dr. Hancock September 9th.
According to the indictment, Dr. Hancock allegedly charged patients $80 to $100 in cash for each visit. He reportedly prescribed “excessive and inappropriate” quantities of prescription drugs such as methadone, morphine, OxyContin to patients.
Hancock faces the following charges: -Health Care Fraud -Unlawful Dispensing of Controlled Substances -Money Laundering -Evasion of Payment of Federal Income Taxes -Failure to File Federal Income Tax Returns
If convicted, Hancock faces up to life imprisonment and fines of over $2.5 million.
The Hawkins County doctor is out on bond. Hancock will appear in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee next Wednesday at 9 a.m. ###
Jefferson, TX investigators caught Doctor John Theodore Hancock, the Hawkins County physician at the center of an alleged “doctor shopping” operation based in Northeast Tennessee. The 47-year-old doctor operates the “Hancock Family Medicine” facility. A Greeneville federal grand jury handed down an indictment against Dr. Hancock September 9th.
According to the indictment, Dr. Hancock allegedly charged patients $80 to $100 in cash for each visit. He reportedly prescribed “excessive and inappropriate” quantities of prescription drugs such as methadone, morphine, OxyContin to patients.
Hancock faces the following charges: -Health Care Fraud -Unlawful Dispensing of Controlled Substances -Money Laundering -Evasion of Payment of Federal Income Taxes -Failure to File Federal Income Tax Returns
If convicted, Hancock faces up to life imprisonment and fines of over $2.5 million.
The Hawkins County doctor is out on bond. Hancock will appear in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee next Wednesday at 9 a.m. ###
