Florida Department of Health begins disciplinary review of 2 Daytona chiropractors after clinic raid

Patients have a tough job in finding the right chiropractor these days.  Coast Chiropractic of Wilton Manors applauds the State of Florida's crackdown on practitioners and clinics who contribute to our nation's prescription drug crisis.   Dr. Troy Lomasky does NOT issue prescriptions for pain medications. 

The following report was published by the Daytona Beach News-Journal (http://www.news-journalonline.com/):


Health Department begins disciplinary review of 2 Daytona chiropractors after clinic raid
By LYDA LONGA, Staff writer 
August 6, 2011

DAYTONA BEACH -- State health investigators will review the actions of two Daytona Beach chiropractors, whose clinic was raided by the FBI this week, to determine if they should be disciplined for violating state licensing standards, the state's surgeon general said Friday.

As the clinic reopened for business Friday, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Frank Farmer confirmed that father and son Joseph Wagner and John Wagner are the two licensed chiropractors mentioned by their initials in an order Thursday that suspended the medical license of West Palm Beach-based Dr. John P. Christensen.

According to state investigators, Joseph Wagner and John Wagner -- with Christensen's authorization -- prescribed pain pills and other drugs to patients at the Wagner Chiropractic & Acupuncture Clinic at 542 N. Ridgewood Ave. The prescriptions were issued in Christensen's name despite the fact that he never evaluated the patients, investigators said.

Joseph and John Wagner are the father and brother of County Councilman Joshua Wagner, respectively.

A review will "be done expeditiously" by state Department of Health investigators to determine if the two Wagners violated licensing standards for chiropractic medicine, said surgeon general Farmer of Ormond Beach. Chiropractic physicians are among a host of medical professionals licensed by the state, although they cannot prescribe medication.

The FBI, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Volusia Bureau of Investigation raided the Wagner clinic Thursday and seized patient records. It is one of three clinics in the state under investigation for insurance fraud and prescribing pain pills by a doctor who never saw the patients, state investigators said.

According to investigators, both Christensen and Joseph Wagner had been carrying out these activities in their Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie clinics.

No one was arrested Thursday. The investigation is ongoing, said FDLE spokeswoman Heather Smith.

The Wagner clinic was open for business Friday morning. A female employee, dressed in a nursing uniform, said the doctor was only conducting "chiropractic business" on Friday.

Two patients were inside the clinic, and workmen were sweeping and working in a middle room of the clinic. Joseph Wagner asked a reporter to leave by pointing to the front door. Then in Spanish, he told the reporter that he would be happy to talk. But when the reporter responded in Spanish, he asked the reporter to leave, saying, "Be nice" in English.

Christensen and the two Wagners have been under investigation for the last three years, state investigators said.

The Department of Health, working with the lead investigating agency, FDLE, determined that Christensen had allowed Joseph Wagner and John Wagner to use the doctor's Drug Enforcement Agency prescribing privileges so the two chiropractors could prescribe medications to patients, according to state records.

Prescribed pills included Lortab painkillers, the anti-anxiety medication Xanax, and Soma, a muscle relaxant, the order shows.

State investigators also claim Christensen billed and received payment from insurance companies for "non-existent evaluations." An order from surgeon general Farmer states Christensen defrauded various insurance agencies by sending them fake invoices and medical records. The bogus records were placed in the files of six patients who never met or received treatment from Christensen, the order says.

Documents show the six patients, who are listed only by their initials in the state order, were seen by Joseph Wagner and John Wagner. Each time, the patients were prescribed Lortab, Xanax or Soma, or all three, according to the order.


Broward County Chiropractor Dr. Troy Lomasky heads Coast Chiropractic of Wilton Manors, Florida. A graduate of the famed New York Chiropractic College, he specializes in quickly treating pain from a variety of conditions.  Services include:  Consultation, X-ray, spinal adjustments & massage therapy, physiotherapy, spinal decompression for disc problems; spinal and muscular rehabilitation.  New patients & same-day appointments available.   (954) 463-3036 or www.chiropractorwiltonmanors.com.  On-call for emergencies 24 hours.  Serving Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.  He does NOT prescribe medication.

Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine to Meet August 5 Via Teleconference; Again on August 12 In Palm Beach

The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine will meet on August 5 via teleconference and again on August 12 in Palm Beach at The Breakers Hotel. Both meetings are open to the public and agendas and meeting materials are provided via hyperlink below.

As part of the August 12 agenda, the Board will discuss Florida's new "Docs and Glocks" law (HB 155) and consider various applications for new chiropractic licensure.


August 5, 2011- Telephone Conference Call

• FAW Notice (pdf - 19kb)
• General Agenda (pdf - 7kb)

August 12, 2011 Meeting in Palm Beach at the Breakers

• FAW Notice (pdf - 19kb)
• Disciplinary Agenda (pdf - 10kb)
• General Agenda (pdf - 7kb)

Notice of August 5 Meeting/Workshop Hearing

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Board of Chiropractic

The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine announces a telephone conference call to which all persons are invited.
DATE AND TIME: Friday, August 5, 2011, 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Department of Health, 4042 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3257; Meet Me Number: 1(888)808-6959, Conference Code: 9849329103

GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: General board business.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Sherra W. Causey. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at this meeting or hearing, he/she will need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence from which the appeal is to be issued.


Notice of August 12 Meeting/Workshop Hearing

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Board of Chiropractic

The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME: Friday, August 12, 2011, 8:30 a.m.
PLACE: The Breakers, 1 South County Road, Palm Beach, Florida 33480, (561)655-6611

GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: General board business.



Broward County Chiropractor Dr. Troy Lomasky heads Coast Chiropractic of Wilton Manors, Florida. A graduate of the famed New York Chiropractic College, he specializes in quickly treating pain from a variety of conditions. Services include: Consultation, X-ray, spinal adjustments & massage therapy, physiotherapy, spinal decompression for disc problems; spinal and muscular rehabilitation. New patients & same-day appointments available. (954) 463-3036 or www.chiropractorwiltonmanors.com. On-call for emergencies 24 hours. Serving Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.