Aug 30, 2018 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – A doctor practicing at a Washington clinic that purported to aid recovering opioid addicts but that authorities branded a “pill mill” pleaded guilty to three counts Wednesday in federal court.

Dr. Michael Bummer, 39, of Sewickley, entered guilty pleas to charges of unlawfully distributing controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute them and health care fraud.

Bummer’s practice was at Redirections Treatment Advocates on West Chestnut Street in Washington.

He admitted before U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab he and others conspired to create and submit unlawful prescriptions for buprenorphine, known by the brand names Subutex and Suboxone, then unlawfully dispensed the drugs to other people.

He also admitted to causing fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicaid and Medicare for payments to cover the costs of the unlawfully prescribed drug, which is used to treat opioid dependence by reducing symptoms.

Schwab scheduled Bummer’s sentencing for January.

Redirections Treatment Advocates also operated in Bridgeville, and Morgantown, Weirton and Moundsville, W.Va.

Jennifer Hess was the owner and founder of the group of clinics. Hess, 49, of Washington, entered a “not guilty” plea and remains free on $10,000 unsecured bond as she awaits trial on charges identical to those on which Bummer Wednesday entered guilty pleas.

The clinics’ manager of daily operations and another doctor who, like Bummer, was an independent contractor, also entered guilty pleas prior to Bummer’s.

RTA, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Cessar, accepted only cash or credit card; it did not deal with private health insurance.

The government alleged Bummer and other RTA physicians would conduct minimal physical examinations and medical histories on initial visits, for which a $175 fee was required. Followup visits, which cost $120, took place only if the patient requested.

Bummer and other RTA doctors would sign blank prescriptions in advance, and, according to the prosecution, Hess, Handa and others would fill in the patient’s name, date and prescription. The doctors were not present when the prescriptions were issued.

During each visit, patients were required to complete “progress notes,” which Bummer and other RTA physicians would sign even though they did not see the patient or complete the prescriptions, authorities said.

Medicare and Medicaid were defrauded when RTA patients would obtain blank, pre-signed prescriptions, which were completed by Bummer and others, and fill the prescriptions at pharmacies using Medicaid or Medicare.

Cessar gave as an example July 12, 2017, when federal agents marked with invisible ink a blank, pre-signed prescription of Bummer’s.

“The prescriptions were in the trunk of a car traveling between RTA locations and were pre-signed by several RTA physicians,” according to information Cessar gave the court. “Patients received the marked scripts without seeing Dr. Bummer on Aug. 16, 2017.”

U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady announced indictments in the case in June.