January 15, 2010 DHH Secretary Alan Levine Issues Statement about New Orleans Pain Management Clinic

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jan 15, 2010 -

BATON ROUGE- Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Alan Levine released the following statement today after the Department acted to temporarily shut down Superior Pain Management Inc. (also doing business as “Superior Medical Care” or “Superior Medical”) at 8070 Crowder Blvd. in New Orleans, for operating a pain management clinic without a license. LDH sought and received a temporary restraining order against Superior Medical, which is prohibited from operating until at least January 25, when a preliminary injunction hearing will be held.

“Pain management clinics and their associates that operate without a license can lead to extreme harm and danger to patients and health care recipients. The Louisiana Legislature passed a statute in 2005 requiring pain management clinics to be licensed by DHH. Under current licensing regulations, each patient who is seen at a pain management clinic and who receives a prescription for a narcotic must be seen by a medical doctor certified in pain management. We must not allow businesses that pass themselves off as health care service providers to illegally profit at the expense of the health and safety of our citizens and, working with law enforcement and the courts, we will aggressively pursue a path to bring those operators to justice.”

The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about LDH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov.

-end-