Bradley A. Seyer, DDS, of Florissant, Missouri, has been sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment and a $50,000 fine after pleading guilty to two felony charges of making false statements to Medicare and illegally issuing prescriptions for narcotic opioid drugs, including hydrocodone, without a legitimate medical purpose.
According to the plea agreement, Seyer provided a prescription for hydrocodone to woman identified only as EA. Seyer and EA had a personal relationship that lasted more than 10 years. During that time, he prescribed her more than 14,000 units of various anti-anxiety and opioid narcotic pain relief drugs.
Seyer prepared and kept some dental treatment records for EA, but they were incomplete. They failed to include all of the prescriptions that he issued for her. Also, the records did not document office visits and examinations by Seyer of EA before he issued some of the prescriptions to her.
In the plea agreement, Seyer admitted that he and EA together consumed some “street” and prescription drugs for recreational purposes. EA often requested prescription drugs by text, leading Seyer to call in the prescriptions at her request.
EA also was depressed and had suicidal ideation as well as a history of mental illness. On several occasions during the summer of 2018, Seyer and EA discussed her desire to commit suicide. EA died at her home in July 2018 of a fentanyl overdose, though Seyer did not prescribe fentanyl to her.
Additionally in the plea agreement, Seyer admitted that he prescribed Tramadol to EA’s father, identified as GA, who has Medicare coverage. Seyer had no dental records showing any dental treatment for GA, though he issued five prescriptions to EA under GA’s name. Medicare paid for these prescriptions, including a Tramadol prescription dated December 2, 2015.
Shortly after Seyer pled guilty on June 26, 2019, the Missouri Legislature restricted the ability of dentists to write prescriptions for long-acting, extended release, or high-dosage opioids.
“Our office will continue to vigorously pursue healthcare providers who submit improper claims for reimbursement to publicly funded healthcare programs and, more specifically, abuse their position by irresponsibly prescribing narcotics that endanger the well-being of their patients,” said Curt Mueller, special agent in charge, US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Kansas City Region.
“The Missouri Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit works tirelessly every day to ensure that Missouri citizens are protected from Medicaid fraud and fraudulent actors are held accountable. I appreciate the opportunity to work with our federal and local partners on this case,” said Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt.
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