Medical Practice With Shelton Office To Pay $80K In Settlement

SHELTON, CT — A medical practice with an office in Shelton and one of its doctors have agreed to pay $80,000 in a civil settlement with the federal government to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act, according to authorities.

Orthopaedic Specialty Group, P.C. and Dr. Lawrence Kirschenbaum, who specializes in pain management, were accused of granting patients early refills 40 times for prescription controlled substances between April 2017 and January 2019, a news release from the U.S. Attorney of the District of Connecticut said.

As part of the settlement, both Kirschenbaum, works at the practice's Fairfield location, and the entire medical group agreed to stop dispensing Schedule II opioids at their offices and will instead have patients fill such prescriptions at pharmacies, according to the news release. The practice has also agreed to include the protocol change in a written policy, authorities said.

In addition to its Shelton and Fairfield offices, the practice has locations in Bridgeport and Milford.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration's Office of Diversion Control, and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection's Drug Control Division, according to the news release.