LAWRENCE COUNTY 3 doctors facing Medicaid fraud, drug charges

The doctors saw nearly 100 patients on a daily basis, records show.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Three Lawrence County doctors have been charged with numerous charges of Medicaid fraud and drug violations, including writing prescriptions for massive quantities of OxyContin and other prescription drugs.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Jerry Pappert was to appear this morning at the Lawrence County Courthouse to announce the charges and arrests.
Pappert's office identified those charged as Dr. Philip Gary Wagman, 46, of Gretchen Road, Dr. Thomas Wilkins, 41, of Mount Jackson Road, and Dr. William Mangino II, 61, of Croton Avenue.
At the time of the allegations, the three operated related medical and chiropractic practices, Work Med and Chiro Med, located at 2017 W. State St.
Agents form Pappert's Medicaid Fraud Control Section in 2003 began the investigation based on a referral from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
A statewide investigative grand jury recommended charges be filed.
Pappert said in a news release that the investigation developed because of concerns about suspicious prescriptions that were not medically necessary.
In addition, he said there were concerns raised by the large numbers of patients congregating in front of Work Med and Chiro Med early in the morning, followed by brief visits inside that resulted in frequent and large prescriptions for OxyContin and other potentially addictive medications.
OxyContin is a highly addictive pain medication that, when abused, can produce the same effect as heroin.
What was found
Pappert said agents from his Medicaid Fraud Control Section executed a search warrant at the practices of Wilkins, Wagman and Mangino on Oct. 14, 2003, seizing appointment books, sign-in sheets and other records. Those records showed that during 2003, the three doctors saw nearly 100 patients on a daily basis.
Pappert said the grand jury found that patients were required to see Wilkins, a chiropractor, first and then see either Wagman or Mangino for prescriptions.
Patients were required to pay $25 in cash per office visit with Wilkins and an additional $40 per visit for the other two, the attorney general said.
Pappert said Mangino came to New Castle to join the practice in March 2003, to assist with the large volume of patient appointments at the practice.
Pappert said the grand jury found that many of the patients were given prescriptions for narcotic pain medications such as OxyContin and Percocet with little or no medical examinations, incomplete or nonexistent histories and no neurological consultation or follow-up testing typically used to develop a proper pain management plan.
Pappert said the grand jury found that in some cases patients visited the practice and received prescriptions several times a week, and sometimes several times a day.
In one example given to the grand jury, a medical expert determined that the dosage of OxyContin being prescribed was many times higher than the lethal dosage for this drug, Pappert said.
Wagman is charged with 19 counts of violating the controlled substance, drug device and cosmetic act. He is also charged with 11 counts of Medicaid fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud and one count of conspiracy to violate the controlled substance, drug device and cosmetic act.
Pappert said Wilkins is charged with 19 counts of acting as an accomplice in violating the controlled substance, drug device and cosmetic act.
In addition, he is charged with 11 counts of acting as an accomplice to Medicaid fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud and one count of conspiracy to violate the controlled substance, drug device and cosmetic act.
Mangino is charged with 11 counts of acting as an accomplice in violating the controlled substance, drug device and cosmetic act.
In addition, he is charged with six counts of Medicaid fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud and one count of conspiracy to violate the controlled substance, drug device and cosmetic act.
All three were expected to be arrested today and arraigned before District Justice J.V. Lamb in Union Township.