Tag: Pain Clinic

Trial Set for Pain Clinic Doctor After 21-Count Indictment

A pain clinic doctor will go to trial next month on charges related to the illegal distribution of controlled substances.

The Register-Herald reports Jose Gordinho was arraigned Monday on the 21-count indictment handed down last week. His trial has been set for Jan. 11 and he will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service while awaiting trial.

The U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin says police executed a search warrant at Gordinho’s office on Nov. 12. He was arrested that day. Several counts say Gordinho distributed oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone and morphine that weren’t for legitimate medical purposes.

Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Agency Proposes Changes to Close W.Va. Clinic Rule Loopholes

The Department of Health and Human Resources has proposed changing rules governing West Virginia’s pain clinics to close loopholes.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that the changes include requiring a pain clinic’s physician-owner to have at least a 25 percent ownership stake in the practice.

The existing rules require a “dedicated physician-owner” to have “care and control” of each practice. But there’s no minimum ownership stake.

Jolynn Marra with the state Office of Health Facility and Licensure and Certification says the rules’ intent was to have an owner invested in the clinic’s outcome.

Marra says state officials didn’t realize that a Beckley clinic could remedy doctor-ownership issues by selling a 1 percent interest to a doctor who worked there.

Other proposed changes would tighten rules about patient records and care.

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