DEA Blocks California Doc from Prescribing Controlled Drugs
Published Date: 4/1/2025
Notice
Summary
The DEA has officially denied Dr. Phong H. Tran’s application to register for handling controlled substances in California because he’s excluded from federal health programs and lacks state permission. This means Dr. Tran can’t legally prescribe or manage certain drugs, impacting his medical practice and patients. The decision is final as of April 1, 2025, and no appeals were filed.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
DEA Registration Denied for Dr. Tran
The Drug Enforcement Administration denied Phong H. Tran, M.D.'s application for a DEA Certificate of Registration, Control No. W22138631C, in California and also denied any other pending application of his for additional registration in California. The Order is issued under 21 U.S.C. 823(g)(1) and 824(a)(5) and states it will be effective thirty days after publication in the Federal Register.
California Medical License Revoked
The Medical Board of California revoked Respondent's California medical license effective August 2, 2024, and California online records taken official notice show the license remains revoked. Because he is not licensed to practice medicine in California, DEA found he lacks the state authority required to obtain or maintain a DEA registration to handle controlled substances in that state.
Mandatory Exclusion From Federal Health Programs
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General excluded Respondent from participation in Medicare, Medicaid, and all federal health care programs effective September 20, 2022, for a period of twelve years. DEA treated that mandatory exclusion under 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7(a) and 21 U.S.C. 824(a)(5) as a separate, independent basis to deny his DEA registration application.
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