SJ Doctor's License Permanently Revoked Over Opioid Scandal

The state Board of Medical Examiners has permanently revoked the medical license of a South Jersey psychiatrist accused of prescribing more than 62,000 Oxycodone pills to two patients over four years without justification, authorities announced on Thursday.

Dr. Joel B. Glass, who practiced in Marlton, also didn’t conduct mandatory lookups on the NJ Prescription Monitoring Program, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division of Consumer Affairs said on Thursday. He did so despite warnings from fellow doctors, pharmacies and/or insurance providers.

As of November of 2016, all prescribers are required to conduct quarterly PMP lookups for patients to whom they prescribe Schedule II CDS for acute or chronic pain. The 74-year-old Glass is the first physician cited by the board for a violation of these regulations, according to authorities. To resolve the allegations against him, Glass surrendered his medical license in a retirement that is being deemed a permanent revocation.

The investigation began when the Vermont Board of Medical Practice submitted a referral accusing Glass of overprescribing highly addictive medications to a patient who lived in Vermont and was filling the prescriptions there. Investigators soon learned that Glass had used gross negligence in helping five patients treat their pain. These acts included:

• prescribing patients extremely large numbers of highly-addictive CDS – primarily Oxycodone and the anti-anxiety drug Diazepam - with no justifiable reason evidenced in his record;
• failing to substantiate his patients’ need for pain medication through use of diagnostic testing and physical examinations;
• failing to employ safeguards to prevent drug abuse and/or diversion, such as urine screens; CDS agreements, and utilizing the PMP to monitor prescription history; and
• frequently prescribing both Diazepam and Oxycodone, a combination of medications that put patients a greater risk for a potentially fatal overdose.

The Vermont patient, identified by authorities as “N.M.,” was prescribed 33,610 pills of 30-milligram Oxycodone between January 2013 and April 2015 without ever receiving a physical examination, according to authorities. He was on this medication for years without a pain management plan being put in place. The patient’s wife claimed that he had begun to abuse the Oxycodone and other drugs. Other doctors and pharmacies also raised concerns. In this case, Glass didn’t perform a PMP lookup until Nov. 11, 2015. After the 2016 regulations passed, he performed only one lookup in December of 2016.

Even after she said she was able to work out at a gym, shovel snow, sled with her children, and attend a spin class despite her pain, Glass continued to prescribe her “massive quantities” of the pills, authorities said.

He also ignored concerns raised by various pharmacies and insurance providers, including that the Oxycodone he prescribed “exceeds controlled substance fill limit,” and that “A.T.” had been identified as “having unusual medication utilization patterns which may indicate possible drug over-utilization,” according to authorities. Again, PMP lookups are few, as only three appear in her medical records, all in 2016, authorities said.

The Complaint also alleges that Glass indiscriminately prescribed excessive quantities of Oxycodone and other CDS to three other patients for three or more months, and as recently as February or March of this year.

on May 5, 2017. On May 10, Glass entered an Interim Order in which he agreed to the temporary suspension of his license pending the conclusion of plenary proceedings or further order of the Board.

On Oct. 27, Glass entered a Consent Order with the Board in which he agreed to immediately retire his license to practice medicine in New Jersey, with such retirement to be deemed a permanent revocation. Under the terms of the Consent Order, the revocation shall be with prejudice and Glass is prohibited from re-applying for his license at any time.

He must also pay a $25,000 penalty and reimburse the state $42,002.90 for costs associated with the investigation and filing of this matter.

Patients who believe that they have been treated by a licensed healthcare professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504- 6200.

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