A Broward doctor is scheduled to be in court Friday accused of writing excessive pain pill prescriptions and failing to conduct proper medical examinations at what prosecutors called a “pill mill” in Deerfield Beach, court records show.

Federal prosecutors filed a lone conspiracy charge against Charles Neuringer, 73, of Coral Springs earlier this week.

Neuringer worked at the Coast to Coast Healthcare Management Clinic on the 300 block of Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach between January 2010 and Dec. 16, 2010, when federal agents raided the business and shut it down, according to court records.

Prosecutors said Neuringer wrote prescriptions for more than 1,000 pain and other pills for undercover agents. If convicted, he faces a maximum of five years in prison, fines of up to $250,000 and possible forfeiture of property including nearly $477,000 he was paid for working at the clinic, according to the criminal charge filed Wednesday.

Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi announced today that more than 105,000 pills were surrendered at 24 locations during a statewide compliance operation conducted by the Department of Health, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and five of Florida’s Regional Drug Enforcement Strike Forces.  The inspections were conducted pursuant to the Department of Health’s declaration of public health emergency made on July 1.

“Earlier this year, I made a promise to crack down on pill mills and stomp this scourge out of our state. The results we’re seeing this week show we’re making good on that promise,” said Governor Rick Scott. “I thank the law enforcement and public health professionals who are making our multi-faceted approach a success and a model for the nation. By shutting down pill mills, we are saving lives and making our communities safer places to live.”

“One of the most effective ways to stop prescription drug abuse is to cut it off at the source,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “It was gratifying to accompany the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the South Florida Strike Force and see them quarantine prescription narcotics and prevent the easy access that had long exacerbated this epidemic.”

The number of pills surrendered or returned to the distributor in each region is as follows:

• Miami Regional Operation Center:                       48,406.5 pills
• Orlando Regional Operation Center:                   52,322 pills
• Tampa Bay Regional Operation Center:             4,698 pills
• Fort Myers Regional Operation Center:               153 pills
• Pensacola Regional Operation Center:              None

In March 2011, Governor Scott announced a Statewide Drug Strike Force, headed by FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey, to combat the criminal distribution of prescription drugs in Florida. With support from Attorney General Pam Bondi and state and local law enforcement leaders, the Strike Force is charged with stopping the flow of dangerous drugs into communities by disrupting the major illegal supply points.

Broward Commissioner Chip LaMarca with Gov. Rick Scott during the pill mill bill signing in Broward County.

Commissioner Chip LaMarca welcomed Florida Governor Rick Scott to Broward County today as the Governor signed HB 7095, the so-called “pill mill bill” into law at Fort Lauderdale Police Headquarters.

“This bill increases penalties for doctors overprescribing pain medications and bans doctors from prescribing narcotics except under special circumstances such as surgery or hospice.  Also, all staff with access to these medications will have to undergo extensive criminal background checks. This bill will save lives,” said Governor Scott.   The bill also authorizes a prescription drug monitoring database though out Florida that will begin operating in August.

“I applaud Governor Scott in realizing the severity of this epidemic, and using the full force of his office to aide in the fight to stop these senseless deaths.  I think it shows his awareness of the issue that the first bill signing took place here in Broward County-Ground Zero in the fight against this epidemic,” said Commissioner LaMarca.

Recently, Broward Commissioners passed a Pain Management Clinic ordinance for the unincorporated areas.  That ordinance strictly regulates zoning, hours of operation, business practices and prohibits pain management clinics from operating within 1200 feet of another pain management clinic, place of worship, child care center or educational center.  The Broward County Pain Management Clinic ordinance is intended to serve as a model ordinance for cities to adopt.  Commissioner Kristin Jacobs pushed forward the ordinance and Commissioners LaMarca and Jacobs participated in protests outside of pill mill clinics within their Broward County districts.

In March, the Broward County Pain Management Clinic Task Force issued its final report with recommendations for the licensing and location of pain management clinics otherwise referred to as “pills mills.” The Commission instructed the County Attorney to draft a model ordinance based on those recommendations.
Broward County has been referred to as the “pill mill” capital of America. In 2009, a Broward County Grand Jury issued a report noting the proliferation of pain clinics throughout the County. The number of pain management clinics in Broward more than doubled from August 2008 to November 2009.