CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (AP) - A retired Casa Grande doctor has been indicted for continuing to prescribe narcotic drugs after his privileges were restricted by the Arizona Medical Board, authorities said Thursday.
The state Attorney General’s Office says Dr. James Barsz signed an interim consent agreement with the medical board in May 2019 that he would no longer prescribe controlled substances while the board investigated his case.
But prosecutors say a review of the Arizona Pharmacy Board’s Prescription Monitoring Program by agents with the Attorney General’s Office showed Barsz continued prescribing narcotic drugs after his privileges were restricted.
Barsz surrendered his license, but allegedly told select patients at the time of his October 2018 retirement that he would continue to write prescriptions on a more informal basis.
In the months that followed, Barsz is accused of meeting with patients at local restaurants or in his home, where no medical evaluation was performed and he would allegedly prescribe narcotic drugs in exchange for cash or gift cards.
Barsz is charged with one count of fraudulent schemes or artifices and five counts of unlawful administration of narcotic drugs.
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