SACRAMENTO, California — Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, and Sutter Fairfield Surgery Center have agreed to pay $3.2 million to resolve allegations of failing to guard against theft and diversion of controlled substances, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
The settlement addresses claims of at least 628 violations of recordkeeping and security requirements under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The United States contends that the Sutter-affiliated entities violated the CSA by not notifying the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of theft or loss, failing to keep accurate records of controlled substances, not completing biennial inventories, and not maintaining complete controlled substance order records. The investigation was initiated following the death of a pediatric anesthesiologist.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to hold health care providers accountable for failing to effectively guard against the diversion of potentially dangerous controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Our community deserves the right to place its trust in health care providers that dispense controlled substances and to know that they adhere to and apply the right safeguards to ensure safety around those products.”…