Latest / Becker's Healthcare Behavioral Health / New York Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Opioid Distribution; Maryland Lawmakers Introduce 7 Bills to Improve Mental Healthcare

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New York Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Opioid Distribution; Maryland Lawmakers Introduce 7 Bills to Improve Mental Healthcare · Becker's Healthcare Behavioral Health

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  This is Randy Homan with Becker's Behavioral Health Podcast.
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  Here's your daily industry news brief For February 21st.
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  First, on Friday, the Justice Department said,
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  New York City Pharmacist Daniel Russo, pharm d,
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  pleaded guilty to opioid distribution and tax charges. Dr.
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  Russo admitted to possession and distribution of oxycodone and related
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  conspiracy charges.
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  He also admitted to filing false business and personal income tax returns.
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  He owned and operated a drugstore called Russo's Pharmacy. Dr.
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  Russo faces a period of supervised, released restitution, monetary penalties,
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  and forfeiture a maximum of 20 years in prison for each of the opioid charges,
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  as well as three years for each false tax return.
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  No sentencing date has been announced.
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  Second Social Services Organization,
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  Chris 180 is one of five recipients in Georgia from the Substance Abuse and
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  Mental Health Services Administration.
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  The four year 4 million grant will be used to develop a certified community
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  behavioral health center.
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  Chris 180 is the only private provider in the state to receive the grant.
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  According to a 2023 ranking by Mental Health America,
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  Georgia ranks last in access to mental health services.
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  Third,
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  Maryland lawmakers introduce seven bills to improve mental healthcare in the
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  state. The bills aim to achieve two goals. One,
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  modernized Maryland's mental health systems, and two,
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  increased access to mental health treatment in the state.
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  One of the bills has already been passed in the Senate through a unanimous vote.
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  The bill would allocate 12 million to fund the state's transition to the
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  national mental health crisis hotline.
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  Three bills in the package have undergone hearings with the Senate Finance
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  Committee. The other three bills will undergo consideration in the coming weeks.
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  One of the bills seeks to establish community behavioral health clinics.
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  Thanks for listening.
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