By KEN de la BASTIDE
Already facing multiple charges in Howard County, Carolyn W. Greer is now the focus of a state investigation into allegations she wrote fraudulent prescriptions.
During a 15-month period, Greer allegedly wrote 22 fraudulent prescriptions for thousands of controlled substances, which she reportedly kept for her own use, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Greer, 40, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday on charges of one Class D felony count of possession of a controlled substance, five Class D felony counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, and one Class D felony count of insurance fraud.
She is scheduled to appear today in Howard Superior Court 1 for an initial hearing.
Kristen Kelley, board director for the Indiana Medical Licensing Board, said Wednesday a consumer complaint was filed with the Indiana Pharmacy Board.
She said the complaint was forwarded to the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, which is conducting an investigation.
“The Attorney General would conduct an investigation and then review it with a board member,” Kelley said of the procedure to handle complaints. “They could decide to file formal charges, seek a possible emergency license suspension or decide no charges are warranted.”
She said a formal complaint would then be filed with the Medical Licensing Board for possible disciplinary action.
Kelley said Greer’s license to practice medicine remains active.
The probable cause affidavit filed by Detective Matt Roberson with the Howard County Sheriff Department alleges Greer wrote prescriptions in the name of her mother, brother, friends, patients and co-workers for Hydrocordone, Lortabs and Xanax.
Police also found 120 blister packs of Lunesta, a schedule IV controlled substance, in Greer’s Russiaville residence.
For some prescriptions, Greer indicated they could be refilled up to five times, according to police. In one instance from April 2009, Greer obtained 120 Lortabs and 60 Xanax, with five refills on each.
Roberson said Wednesday that Greer was 100 percent cooperative during the investigation.
“She gave a complete confession to her wrong-doing,” he said. “Her confession vindicated other participants.”
Roberson said Greer does not distribute the medications.
His probable cause affidavit indicated a former nurse who worked for Greer noticed a bag of Lortabs in Greer’s desk dating 2002.
Roberson’s probable cause affidavit noted a pharmacist at the Kokomo Meijer store was made aware of suspicious controlled substance prescriptions and contacted the state pharmacy inspector.
He said the pharmacist did the right thing by contacting the state agency.
Greer graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1996 and did her residency at the school in obstetrics and gynecology.
She resigned her privileges at Howard Regional in March 2009.
