Di Pietro Partners Podcast

DEA Investigations & Prescribing Risk: What Physicians Need to Know

In Episode 8 of the Di Pietro Partners Podcast, Kevin sits down with healthcare attorney David Di Pietro to discuss DEA investigations, prescribing compliance, and the growing scrutiny healthcare providers face when prescribing controlled substances. David explains how DEA investigations often begin long before physicians believe they have done anything wrong. From prescribing patterns and pharmacy reports to audits, inventory discrepancies, and staff misconduct, this episode explores the real-world issues that can trigger DEA scrutiny and place both a medical license and DEA registration at risk. The discussion also covers what typically happens when the DEA contacts a physician, how investigations can escalate from administrative matters into criminal exposure, and the compliance mistakes providers commonly make when dispensing or prescribing controlled substances. Topics covered include: * What triggers a DEA investigation * High-risk prescribing patterns and red flags * Surprise DEA visits, audits, and subpoenas * How DEA investigations can become criminal matters * Risks involving staff misuse of DEA credentials * Pain management and controlled substance scrutiny * Inventory and documentation requirements for dispensing physicians * How DEA issues can affect medical licenses and hospital privileges * Common compliance mistakes healthcare providers make * Risk reduction strategies and proactive compliance measures * How Di Pietro Partners helps physicians facing DEA investigations This episode is essential listening for physicians, practice owners, pain management providers, and healthcare professionals who prescribe or dispense controlled substances and want to better understand DEA compliance and regulatory risk.

Medical License Defense: What Really Puts Your License at Risk

In Episode 7 of the Di Pietro Partners Podcast, Kevin sits down with healthcare attorney David Di Pietro to break down one of the most serious risks physicians face: medical license investigations and disciplinary action. From Board of Medicine complaints to arrests, prescribing issues, and malpractice exposure, David explains what actually triggers a medical license investigation and what happens once the process begins. He walks through the different types of discipline physicians may face including probation, suspension, and revocation and why many cases are more manageable than doctors initially assume. The episode also covers the critical mistakes physicians make when responding to Board inquiries, the differences between administrative hearings and board appearances, and why early legal strategy is essential to protecting your career. David also explains how disciplinary actions can follow physicians across state lines through national reporting systems, impacting hospital privileges, insurance participation, and long-term reputation. Topics covered include: * What the Board of Medicine can do to your license (probation, suspension, revocation) * Common triggers for medical license investigations (DUIs, malpractice, prescribing, ethics violations) * The medical board investigation process and available defense paths * Administrative hearings vs appearing directly before the Board * Common mistakes physicians make during investigations * When to hire a medical license defense attorney * The National Practitioner Data Bank and long-term reporting consequences * Whether you can appeal a license suspension or revocation * How Di Pietro Partners defends physicians in medical board proceedings This episode is essential listening for physicians, healthcare professionals, and practice owners who want to understand their legal exposure and protect their medical license.

Whistleblower Law & Healthcare Fraud

In Episode 6 of the Di Pietro Partners Podcast, Kevin sits down with founding partner David Di Pietro to break down whistleblower law and healthcare fraud under the False Claims Act. David explains what qualifies as fraud against the government, how illegal billing schemes arise in Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare, and why whistleblowers play a critical role in protecting public healthcare programs. The episode explores the rapid rise of telehealth fraud, Medicare Advantage (Part C) risk adjustment schemes, and how seemingly small billing issues can expose nationwide corporate misconduct. Listeners will also learn who is eligible to report healthcare fraud, how to safely gather evidence, what legal protections whistleblowers have against retaliation, and how financial rewards are calculated in successful qui tam cases. Topics covered include: * What healthcare fraud is under the False Claims Act * Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and telehealth fraud schemes * Medicare Part C risk adjustment and diagnosis inflation * Who can report healthcare fraud (and who cannot) * How to report fraud without risking retaliation * Whistleblower protections under federal and state law * Financial incentives and recovery percentages for whistleblowers How Di Pietro Partners represents whistleblowers nationwide This episode is essential listening for healthcare professionals, compliance officers, billing staff, and insiders who suspect fraud and want to understand their rights and options.

Defending Your Practice in Healthcare Investigations

In Episode 5 of the Di Pietro Partners Podcast, Kevin sits down with senior healthcare attorney Nicole Martell to unpack what doctors and practice owners need to know when facing audits, subpoenas, or government investigations. Whether it’s a Medicare overbilling audit, a Board of Medicine complaint, or a DEA inquiry into prescribing practices, Nicole walks through the high-stakes world of healthcare investigations and how to respond. She outlines the most common types of investigations physicians face, what triggers them, and the legal protections providers may not realize they have. Topics covered include: * OIG & CMS audits * DEA & Board of Medicine investigations * Private insurance clawbacks and payer disputes * Whistleblower/FCA claims and False Claims Act risk * What to do (and not do) when you get a subpoena * How Di Pietro Partners defends healthcare providers under investigation * How to reduce your risk of being targeted in the first place This episode is a must-listen for physicians, compliance officers, and healthcare businesses navigating today’s aggressive regulatory environment.

Private Equity & Medical Practice Acquisitions: What Physicians Need to Know

In Episode 4 of the Di Pietro Partners Podcast, Kevin sits down with healthcare attorney Nicole Martell to break down one of the most important business decisions a physician can face: selling a medical practice to private equity. With private equity groups rapidly consolidating healthcare practices across the country, this episode explains how these deals work, what motivates investors, and what legal risks doctors must understand before signing a Letter of Intent. Nicole walks through key topics including: * Why private equity is buying medical practices * Common deal structures (buyouts, recapitalizations, MSOs) * Red flags in LOIs and purchase agreements * How due diligence works for both buyers and sellers * Stark Law, Anti-Kickback issues & regulatory oversight * How to protect your compensation, control, and long-term career Nicole also explains how Di Pietro Partners helps physicians navigate the entire process — from early-stage planning and structuring to reviewing deal terms and ensuring compliance. Whether you’re actively considering a sale or simply preparing for the future, this episode offers essential legal insight into the business side of modern healthcare.