PRESCRIPTION FRAUD - CHARACTERISTICS, CONSEQUENCES, AND INFLUENCES

This research examines the characteristics, consequences, and potentia l factors impacting the prevalence of prescription fraud committed by pharmacy employees. Using standard thematic content analysis, 292 case s prosecuted by Medicaid Fraud Control Units throughout the nation are analyzed. Preliminary results reveal that certain kinds of fraud (gen eric substitution, short-counting, and filling prescriptions without a refill) are committed more regularly, or at least detected more readi ly than other kinds of fraud. Most of the prosecutions involved pharma cists accused of fraud and many of the of senses were committed in gro ups. Implications for future research and policy are provided.