Middletown Woman Accused of Extensive Doctor Shopping in Vernon

A joint federal and local investigation has uncovered an extensive case of doctor shopping by a 61-year-old Middletown woman, Vernon police said.

The woman is now facing 43 counts of doctor shopping around Vernon in an effort to obtain prescription medicine, an arrest report indicates.

Patricia Hollis, of 352 Newfield St., Middletown, was arrested without incident at her residence based on the strength of an active arrest warrant, police said.

The warrant was based on an investigation in which Hollis was found to have been doctor shopping 43 times from Jan. 10, 2009 to Dec. 16, 2009, police said.

She was obtaining prescription narcotics from several doctors, all at the same time, police said.

The investigation took place in conjunction with the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, which oversees Medicaid disbursement, police said.

She appeared in court on Wednesday.