DENVER, CO — Monica Preston, a former nurse practitioner in Colorado Springs, has agreed to pay $90,000 to resolve allegations of unlawfully prescribing controlled substances, including opioids and dangerous drug combinations, outside the bounds of her professional practice.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, Preston, who worked at the now-defunct Colorado Institute for Pain Management, prescribed opioids in dosages, frequencies, and combinations that violated established medical guidelines and posed risks to patient safety. Her actions raised concerns about potential misuse and abuse of these drugs.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch emphasized that healthcare professionals, particularly nurse practitioners with prescribing authority, must remain vigilant for signs that patients may be misusing or abusing prescription medications.
“When nurse practitioners do not adhere to well-established prescribing guidelines or falsely represent that improper prescriptions were reasonable and necessary, we will hold them accountable,” Kirsch said.
The investigation revealed that Preston not only failed to follow proper medical protocols but also fraudulently represented to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that these improper prescriptions were justified as reasonable and necessary treatments.
As part of the settlement, Preston has agreed to permanently forgo holding a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration, which effectively bars her from prescribing controlled substances in the future.
The DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge, Jonathan Pullen, stated, “The DEA is proud to relentlessly pursue practitioners not acting in their patients’ best interests.” Pullen also highlighted the role of federal partners who contributed to the investigation and the successful resolution of the case.
This settlement underscores the ongoing efforts to prevent opioid abuse and enforce ethical practices within the healthcare system.
