Healthcare Expert Edward Eichhorn Lectures on the Ills of Medicare-for-all

at Stevens Institute of Technology School of Business

Hoboken, NJ, February 28, 2020 –

Echoing the sentiments of Democratic candidates Biden, Bloomberg, Klobuchar and Buttigieg from their debate podiums in South Carolina earlier this week, healthcare expert and author, Edward Eichhorn, spoke of the ills of Medicare-for-all as a guest lecturer yesterday at the School of Business on the campus of the Stevens Institute of Technology in

Hoboken, NJ.

Said Eichhorn: “It is time for us to embrace a practical universal healthcare plan for America that maintains choice and reduces cost. The Eichhorn & Hutchinson plan does that. Medicare-for-all does not.”

The Healing American Healthcare Coalition endorses what it refers to as a well-conceived universal healthcare plan co-authored by Mr. Eichhorn and Dr. Michael Hutchinson. According to the Coalition, if the United States were to adopt this approach, employers would be required to provide healthcare plans, but could choose between being self-insured, buying private insurance, or selecting a competitive public option.

By fostering competition in the private insurance market with a cost-effective public option, the Eichhorn-Hutchinson plan is expected to reduce employer healthcare costs by as much as 30%.

The Coalition believes that implementing the Eichhorn-Hutchinson universal healthcare plan would not lead to an increase in government funding, and it is likely that federal and state costs for Medicaid would actually decline. In total, it’s estimated that the Eichhorn-Hutchinson plan could save up to

one trillion dollars

per year.

Key Outcomes Under the Eichhorn-Hutchinson Plan

All employers provide health insurance

Public option funded by tax on employers who choose this option for their employees

Substantially

lower

than current health care costs incurred by employers

Public option will create price competition

Preserves a role for private insurers

Healthcare costs can be reduced to 12 percent of GDP over ten years (from the current 19%)

Medical billing will be simplified

Medical-related bankruptcies in the U.S. will decrease by 50 percent

Drug prices will be negotiated on a national level

Life expectancy in the U.S. will improve

Insurance premiums will decrease by as much as 30 percent

Up to one trillion dollars in cost reduction annually

For more information about the Eichhorn-Hutchinson plan visit

HealingAmericanHealthcare.org

About Healing American Healthcare Coalition

The Healing American Healthcare Coalition is an independent organization dedicated to providing its members with timely and insightful information and reports concerning universal healthcare proposals and programs. The Coalition is not a political action committee, nor is it affiliated with any political party. The Coalition’s mission is to be a trusted objective source regarding the current discussions on potential healthcare initiatives that could have an impact on the health and well-being of Americans today and in the future.

Red Bank’s 11th Annual Wedding Walk Returns

Free wedding planning event features top professionals, venues and latest trends to help you plan all of your nuptial needs

RED BANK, NJ – The Red Bank Wedding Walk is back again and will take place on Sunday, March 22, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to engaged couples with and without a set wedding date. Kicking off a new decade, the Red Bank Wedding Walk will provide brides and grooms the opportunity to interact with more than 40 local wedding businesses and professionals providing the latest trends, styles and ideas to make their special day an unforgettable event!

Attendees are asked to register in advance by visiting

www.RedBankWeddingWalk.com

, where they can also browse the participating businesses and map out an itinerary in advance to make the most of the day!

Brides and grooms will begin the event at 10 a.m. by checking in at the Oyster Point Hotel, a beautiful waterfront venue located at 146 Bodman Place. At check-in, guests will be given a map, passport and tote while enjoying a complimentary continental breakfast. Passports should be stamped at each participating business in order to be entered to win door prizes and incredible grand prizes! Eligible passports must have at least 14 locations stamped by each business during the Wedding Walk.

From there, each entourage will set off on a self-guided tour to explore potential rehearsal dinner locations, award-winning wedding venues, photography and videography professionals, entertainment and transportation experts, hair and makeup salons, and, of course, dress boutiques offering options for the bride and bridal party – and much, much more! Around 3 p.m., attendees should begin to make their way back to the Molly Pitcher Inn’s breathtaking promenade for an exciting reception featuring music, savory treats, libations, prizes and a champagne toast.

During the closing reception, winners of the fabulous grand prizes, as well as a wide array of fun door prizes, will be drawn. Prizes include an all-inclusive honeymoon trip courtesy of Liberty Travel, a romantic getaway package at the Molly Pitcher/Oyster Point, a DJ entertainment package from Hurricane Productions, and many more wonderful offerings from Red Bank businesses.

I-295 to be closed and detoured overnight next week; One lane to remain open during construction

Maintenance resurfacing work begins in Carneys Point

(Trenton)

– New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced I-295 southbound and northbound will be closed and detoured on separate nights next week for the start of a maintenance and resurfacing project in Carneys Point, Salem County.

Tuesday, March 3:

Beginning at 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, through 6 a.m., Wednesday, March 4, NJDOT’s Contractor, Schifano Construction Corp., will

close and detour I-295 southbound

between Exit 4/Route 48 and Exit 2C/Route 130. The closure is necessary to place construction barrier to close one lane.

When the highway reopens on Wednesday morning the right lane will be closed and left lane will remain open. This configuration will be in place for approximately one month. The following signed detour will be in place overnight Tuesday, March 3:

I-295 southbound detour:

(8 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 to 6 a.m. Wednesday, March 4)

Motorists on I-295 southbound will be directed to take Exit 4/Route 48

Turn right onto Route 48 west/Harding Highway

Turn left onto Route 130 south/S. Virginia Avenue

Turn left onto Route 140 east/Hawks Bridge Road

Turn left to take ramp onto I-295 south

Wednesday, March 4, 2020:

Beginning at 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 4, through 6 a.m. Thursday, March 5, NJDOT’s Contractor, Schifano Construction Corp., will

close and detour I-295 northbound

between Exit 2B-C Route 130/Route 40 and Exit 4/Route 48. The closure is necessary to place construction barrier to close one lane.

When the highway reopens on Thursday morning the right lane will be closed and left lane will remain open for approximately one month. Access to the rest area will be maintained during construction. The following signed detour will be in place overnight Wednesday, March 4:

I-295 northbound detour:

(8 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 to 6 a.m. Thursday, March 5)

Motorists wishing to continue on I-295 northbound will be directed to take Exit 2B-C/Route 130/Route 40

Stay left for Exit 2C/Route 130

Turn left Route 140 west/Hawks Bridge Road

Turn right onto Route 130 north/Shell Road

Shell Road will become S. Virginia Avenue

Turn right onto Route 48 east/ E. Main Street

Turn left to take the ramp onto I-295 north

Motorists are advised to consider the NJ Turnpike as alternative to I-295 during construction.

The project will excavate, mill and pave a 1.25-mile stretch of I-295 between Exit 2C/Route 130 and the bridges over Hollywood Avenue/Dupont Country Club Road. In addition to resurfacing, the project also includes a complete replacement of the Weigh in Motion (WIM) sensors in the road. The WIM sensors allow NJDOT to collect roadway speeds, traffic volume, vehicle classification, and vehicle weight. The expected to be completed in April 2020.

Variable message signs are being utilized throughout the project limits to provide advance notification to motorists of all traffic pattern changes associated with the project.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT\’s traffic information website

www.511nj.org

for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter

@NJDOT_info

or on the

NJDOT Facebook page

Unions Endorse Brigid Callahan Harrison

[February 28, 2020 – Longport, New Jersey] – Last night before a packed house at Teamsters Local 331, labor unions across Atlantic County including – AFT NJ, UNITE-HERE 54, Painters District Council 711, Ironworkers Local 399, South Jersey Building and Construction Trades Council, IATSE 917, UAW, SMWIA State Council, NALC 903, Teamsters Local 331, IBEW 351, Southern New Jersey Building

Trades Council, Atlantic/Cape May Central Labor Council, UFCW Local 360, BAC New Jersey & Area District Council, IFPTE Atlantic Council and Local 195, UA 322, IBEW 827 – united to rally their support for Brigid Callahan Harrison, Democratic candidate for the second congressional district.

Harrison, a 25-year member of American Federation of Teachers Local 1904, issued her declaration of policy principles regarding support of working families and job creation. The following is a statement from Harrison and lists the core priorities she plans to bring to Washington after securing the party nomination and a November victory against turncoat Jeff Van Drew:

“I am inspired by the many working families who attended last night’s rally and so thankful for the great support of our local unions. I believe that together we are creating a true movement that not only demands the removal of Donald Trump’s best buddy Jeff Van Drew, but replaces him with a person who understands that the hopes for a strong future begins with a clear vision for how our community can thrive and improve the lives of working men and women, and their children here in South Jersey. In the short time since Van Drew has switched, he already has voted against organized labor twice.”

• I will fight against the “right to work” legislation and work to guarantee the right to unionize and bargain collectively, including in the “gig economy” sector. I will fight for gig workers to receive full employee benefits, create portable benefits that stay with workers when they switch jobs, and help displaced workers to build the next phase of their careers.

• I will work to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and index the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index so that as the price for goods and services increases, so do wages.

• I will support requiring employers to provide employees 12 weeks of paid family leave for the birth or adoption of a child or to care for a sick family member. I will fight for all employees to receive 7 days of paid sick leave every year.

• I will support the reinstatement of the Obama administration’s overtime rule, making more workers eligible for overtime.

• I will sponsor legislation to ensure that the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act, requiring the payment of prevailing wages on federally financed or assisted construction projects, applies to all federally supported infrastructure and construction projects, including roads, bridges, and rail, energy, and clean water projects, and school construction projects, that receive federal assistance. The law assures local contractors the opportunity to compete for government projects, ensures that federal construction activity does not undercut community wage standards, and protects the government from shoddy construction performed by under-skilled and underpaid employees.

• I will advocate for the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions legislation, which creates a private loan program so that underfunded union pension plans can be set on a path to solvency without asking for additional sacrifice from active and retired workers.

• I will work to ensure that all workers who pay into Social Security, including public-sector employees, receive their full benefits.

• I will work to enact the Fair Playing Field Act of 2015 and the Payroll Fraud Prevention Act of 2015, which would close loopholes that enable businesses to misclassify employees as “independent contractors,” denying them rights and protection and undercutting businesses that properly categorize employees.

REVISED CUSTOMER ADVISORY Paramus Inspection Station Closed March 4

TRENTON – New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) customers are advised that the date for the closing of the Paramus Inspection Station, located at 20 W. Century Road, Paramus, NJ 07652, has been changed to Wednesday, March 4, 2020. The Paramus Inspection Station will be open on Wednesday, February 26, 2020.

The MVC has been notified by PSE&G that it will be doing electrical work in front of the entrance and exit to the inspection facility that will require closing access points. The electrical work is in connection with a Bergen County bridge refurbishing project that requires PSE&G to relocate its overhead wires and equipment.

The MVC apologizes for any inconvenience.

Alternate inspection stations include:

Wayne

481 Route 46 West

Wayne, NJ 07470

Lodi

8 Mill Street

Lodi, NJ 07644

The MVC reminds customers to always check our website before visiting a local office and to take advantage of driver license renewal and other online services, such as vehicle registration renewals, driver abstract requests, and surcharge and restoration payments.

For more about the ongoing positive changes at the MVC, visit

njmvc.gov

Philadelphia Bar Association Calls for an End to Unwarranted Attacks on the U.S. Judiciary

Encourages All Americans to Speak Up in Defense of the Constitution and Our Country’s Democratic Principles

PHILADELPHIA, PA –

In response to recent, unwarranted attacks on the U.S. Judiciary, Chancellor Hon. A. Michael Snyder (ret.) of the

Philadelphia Bar Association

, the nation’s oldest metropolitan Bar Association, issued the following statement:

“As the nation’s oldest metropolitan Bar Association, the Philadelphia Bar Association has always considered certain principles to be imperatives of this Association and of the legal profession. We believe that the rule of law and an independent judiciary are cornerstones of a democracy and of a civilized society.

“Unless these structures and principles are vibrant, and unless we vigorously defend their existence, the dream of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people begins to crumble.

“The rule of law demands that each individual, whether rich or poor, famous or unknown, understands that the law is applied equally to them. We cannot have two systems of justice, one for the rich and connected and one for everyone else.

“Our Constitution provides for a separation of powers through a system of checks and balances which ensures that no single branch of government becomes too powerful.

“An independent judiciary is a necessity if we are to function as a democracy and not as an authoritarian society. Judges need to know that their lawful judgments will be upheld, and that their very legitimacy may not be questioned. Under the rule of law, the way to question or challenge a judicial determination or Order is through an appellate review process.

“Recently, we have seen a course of conduct, including communications meant to exert undue influence on the judiciary, that seems intent on undermining the rule of law and disrupting the system of checks and balances. Such attacks are dangerous in the extreme. We cannot allow them to continue.

“We call for an end to these unwarranted attacks on the judiciary and for all Americans to speak up in defense of the Constitution and our democratic principles.

“A society without laws is not a society; it is chaos. A society without an

ndependent judiciary is not the society that we should value.”

# # #

The Philadelphia Bar Association, founded in 1802, is the preeminent metropolitan association of lawyers in the United States. It is a keystone in the ongoing developments of the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania legal systems.

With more than 200 years of dedicated service to stand on, the Philadelphia Bar Association is firmly rooted in the Philadelphia community as a steady and reliable bellwether. To learn more about the association,

visit here

The Center for American Women and Politics Provides Unparalleled Resources for 2020 Elections

With the first congressional and state primaries only a week away, the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University is breaking down the performance of women candidates across the country through our

Election Watch

project. As in years

past, CAWP will provide results data about women candidates after primary contests, marrying historical data and context with present-day analysis to provide real-time updates on the 2020 election cycle. Before primary day, check out the myriad resources already on the

CAWP website

, and stay tuned for more updates.

REVAMPED

Candidate Summary

: See full numbers of women candidates for Senate, House, governor, lieutenant governor, and other statewide elected executive offices, now accompanied by interactive graphics that compare current numbers to historical records, display state-by-state information, track candidate filings, sort candidates by whether they\’re running for open seats or as challengers, and more. This candidate summary currently includes both likely and filed candidates and will update throughout the year with confirmed, filed candidates and general election nominees as filing deadlines and primary elections pass. The candidate summary will also include general election candidates for state legislatures following primary election results. [

CANDIDATE SUMMARY

]

2020 Candidate List

: This page contains a list of all filed and likely candidates for congressional, gubernatorial, and other statewide elected executive offices, along with links to candidate websites. As with the candidate summary, when filing deadlines pass, this list will update with all confirmed, filed candidates. Filed candidates are marked \”filed\” while likely candidates are marked with their state\’s filing deadline. This list also includes candidates in special elections. [

CANDIDATE LIST

]

Election Analysis

: Throughout the 2020 election, CAWP\’s Election Analysis blog will provide research and analysis from both CAWP\’s team of scholars and researchers as well as guest contributions from academics and expert practitioners. Some recent analyses include:

A woman can win the presidency. Here are the receipts.

;

After Iowa: Is sexism weighing Warren down?

; and

What does Buttigieg\’s success mean for gender progress in American politics?

. Our Election Analysis blog will also include expanded primary results with more detail than our press releases. [

ELECTION ANALYSIS

]

Rebound candidates:

Record numbers of women ran at all levels of office in 2018, and record numbers were successful, but many women fell short of victory. In 2020, CAWP is tracking those unsuccessful 2018 candidates that are getting back in the race for 2020. [

REBOUND CANDIDATES

]

Woman vs. Woman Races

: As primary elections are decided, CAWP will track congressional and gubernatorial races that feature two women nominees. The record for such races was also set in 2018. [

WOMAN vs. WOMAN RACES

]

As always, our

Election Watch

site includes historical data for previous elections. To stay in the know about women in 2020 during election nights, debates, and throughout the cycle, follow

CAWP on Twitter

and our election hashtag

#GenderLens2020

. To arrange an interview with one of CAWP\’s experts, contact

Daniel De Simone

About CAWP

The

Center for American Women and Politics

(CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers-New Brunswick, is nationally recognized as the leading source of scholarly research and current data about American women\’s political participation. Its mission is to promote greater knowledge and understanding about women\’s participation in politics and government and to enhance women\’s influence and leadership in public life. CAWP\’s education and outreach programs translate research findings into action, addressing women\’s under-representation in political leadership with effective, intersectional, and imaginative programs serving a variety of audiences. As the world has watched Americans considering female candidates for the nation\’s highest offices, CAWP\’s nearly five decades of analyzing and interpreting women\’s participation in American politics have provided the foundation and context for the discussion.

Companies that Haul or Process Soil, Fill Recyclable Material in NJ MUST Register by April 20

DEP ANNOUNCES REGISTRATION DEADLINE

TRENTON – Businesses conducting soil and fill recyclable material services that do not already possess an A-901 license have until April 20, 2020, to register with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as a first step to comply with a newly enacted licensing law requiring greater oversight of those activities, Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe announced today.

Governor Phil Murphy signed the law – known as the \”Dirty Dirt Bill\” on Jan. 21, which expands the DEP\’s oversight of companies that engage in, or provide, soil and fill recycling services including collection, transportation, processing, brokering, storage, purchase, sale or disposition of soil and fill recyclable materials.

\”With the passage of this new law as well as the gains made with our Guard Your Backyard campaign, the DEP and our local partners are in a better position to take action to address problematic fill material and companies engaged in these activities,\” Commissioner McCabe said. \”These new tools will empower the state and local governments to ensure that the soil and fill brought into our communities is clean and safe, while helping us defend against illegal dumping of soil and fill.\”

The law also requires affected companies that do not already possess an A-901 license to submit an application and a disclosure statement to the Attorney General\’s Office detailing their work with soil and fill material in order to receive a soil and fill recycling license for operations in New Jersey by Oct. 19, 2020. The Attorney General\’s Office, New Jersey State Police and DEP will review the disclosure statements in consideration of granting a license.

\”Dumping or unacceptable use of soil and fill materials occur too frequently,\” Assistant Commissioner for Compliance and Enforcement Elizabeth Dragon said. \”DEP Compliance and Enforcement welcomes this new law to monitor and ensure the businesses involved are legitimate and complying with the new regulations, starting when soil or fill material is picked up until it is placed at a site.\”

Businesses that do not register by the deadline or businesses that apply for a license thereafter and do not meet the license review requirements will no longer be allowed to perform soil or fill recycling services work in New Jersey.

Businesses that register may continue their services while awaiting a license. Those who apply for a license after the deadline will have to wait for the license before continuing soil and fill recycling services. Businesses that believe they may be subject to the new law may review a DEP Compliance Advisory at

www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/advisories-date.html

The new law follows DEP\’s recent launch of the Guard Your Backyard campaign, which has a dedicated website offering local guidance and a model ordinance that municipal leaders can download and modify to suit their local needs. Enacting ordinances can give local governments the authority to determine what kind of fill material may be brought into their communities.

The soil and fill recycling materials registration form for the DEP is available at

www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/a901/a901frms.htm

To learn more about Guard Your Backyard, visit

www.guardyourbackyard.nj.gov

Most Common Cable Connection Problems and Easy Ways to Fix Them

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(February 28, 2020)–Our lives are dependent on the internet and disconnection means a total blackout. Be it an office, a home or a public place, the internet is everywhere. Admit it or not, we are all trapped and chained to the charismatic world of internet.

No matter what, every one of us has faced cable connection issues leading to internet disconnection, and without having any clue, we are in a state of confusion – what to do next. Imagine yourself watching a thriller movie on

Spectrum TV

and suddenly the movie stops in the middle – what is your first reaction?

You would definitely question yourself how do I fix it. Should I call the customer support or try to figure out the problem myself. If I call the customer support, I would have to wait for some time and in the meanwhile, my interest in the movie would diminish. It is better to sort out the problem myself.

We are going to reveal some of the common cable connection issues how you can fix them without banging your head. Let’s get started.

Loose Connections and Power Cable

Generally, the problem arises when the terminal connection at outlets and wall switches become loose. Make sure to check these fixtures and if any of the connections are loose, try to fix them. You can identify loose connections through signals such as crackling sound, or buzzing.

Moreover, sometimes we bang, nudge or poke wires without knowing it and wonder why it is not working without checking. If your internet is not connecting, then check that your router is not unplugged or the plug is halfway in and halfway out. If you see any of the two issues, just make sure to take out the plug and insert it tightly.

Moreover, the router’s LED lights can also indicate whether the connection is loose or unplugged. If there is no light, the router is not getting any power. To fix this, simply first disconnect the power cable and reconnect it.

In case your router is still not working, make sure to check the outlet and power supply to see if it is getting power. Just take the tester, put it in the socket and see if the light turns on. If not, there is a problem with the power strip and not the router or lose connection.

Joining Wires with Electrical Tape

Wire connections when joined together with tape can result in an error. Rather than connecting the wires with tape, it is better to use a nut or a sanctioned connector. To fix this issue, you must first turn off the power and remove the electrical tape from the wire. Clean the wire and make sure that the insulation on the wire should be removed in such a way that it is showing the proper amount of exposed wire. After ripping off the insulation, connect the wire properly with nut or any other approved connector.

Two Wires under Single Screw Terminal

Common cable connection issues also arise when two or more wires are connected under the same screw terminal on an outlet or a switch. It can be quite hazardous due to the possibility of a fire eruption. For safety reasons, it is not allowed to have two wires squeezed under one screw.

To resolve this issue, you need to cut off the power before you start repairing it. After turning off the power supply, remove the two wires wedged under one screw. Take a pigtail wire of the same color and remove ¾ inch of insulation from both ends of the pigtail. Now connect one end to the two wires you just removed previously.

Join the free end of the wire to the screw terminal that was holding two wires previously. You can also create a pathway or bridge that joins both wires to the preferred screw terminal on the switch or outlet.

Call Your ISP if Everything Fails

After you have done all the aforementioned steps and the problem persists, make sure to call your Internet Service Provider. The customer support will try to resolve the problem over the phone by checking your system on their end. If the problem can’t be solved over the phone, your Internet Service Provider will surely send a technical person to your home.

image courtesy of unsplash.com

Doctor Described as ‘Candy Man’ Admits to Distributing Opioids to Patients w/o a Medical Reason

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County doctor today admitted distributing opioids without a legitimate medical reason and falsifying medical records to cover it up, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

CNBNews graphics file

Robert Delagente, 45, of Oakland, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances, three counts of distribution of controlled dangerous substances, and one count of falsifying medical records.

“This defendant knowingly prescribed for his patients some of the most dangerous and addictive drugs available, sometimes with no more contact than a text message from the patient,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “Many of these patients were dealing with pain and addiction, and instead of getting help from their doctor, they were drawn deeper into the cycle of drug abuse. His admission of guilt today ensures that he will be appropriately punished for this behavior.”

“Dr. Delagente sold his ethics, his medical license, and his moral compass,” FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie said. “There is no magic elixir for the pain caused by pill mill doctors. The cure is public awareness, victims who come forward and a determined fleet of FBI investigators who will arrest these unscrupulous practitioners when they run afoul of the law.”

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Beginning in May 2014, Delagente was a doctor at a medical practice called North Jersey Family Medicine (NJFM) in Oakland, New Jersey. He allegedly described himself in conversations pertaining to his prescribing of painkillers as the “Candy Man” and the “El Chapo of Opioids.” Delagente knowingly prescribed controlled substances, such as oxycodone, Percocet, Tylenol with codeine, and various benzodiazepines (alprazolam, diazepam, clonazepam, and temazepam), outside the ordinary course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. He ignored the inherent danger and medical risk of overdose, drug abuse, and death that can accompany prescriptions of highly addictive opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxers, both on their own and in combination with one another.

Delagente prescribed controlled substances without ever seeing the purported patient for a medical visit or even discussing with the patient the medical need for the prescription. He allowed patients to ask him for controlled substances via text message and would write a prescription for patients that he would leave at the front desk, without requiring an office visit or consultation of any kind. He allowed patients to dictate the strength and dosage of the controlled substances he prescribed for them. Delagente also prescribed the dangerous drug combination known as the “Holy Trinity,” comprised of opioids (usually oxycodone), benzodiazepines (usually alprazolam) and muscle relaxers (usually carisoprodol).

Delagente failed to monitor patients for addiction and ignored drug screening tests to determine whether certain patients were taking illicit drugs. In fact, Delagente prescribed controlled substances to patients he knew were addicted to opioids or other controlled substances. In one instance, an NJFM employee texted Delagente that a patient had gotten a babysitter and driven a long distance to get to the practice, but had been unable to see a doctor. Delagente responded: “Oh well … C’est la vie! Lol … He can wait for his oral heroin another day. Lol.”

One patient texted Delagente that the patient “probably can’t stop the pk’s,” referring to painkillers. The patient told Delagente that the patient “would need a plan to stop…not cold turkey.” A few days later, when the patient was having trouble obtaining pain medication, the patient wrote to Delagente that “If I go 4 days without [painkillers] I am in huge trouble.” In response, Delagente wrote “I will leave you a short supply RX [prescription] at the front to pick up.” Delagente then wrote the patient a prescription for 120 tablets of 30-milligram oxycodone for 30 days. Delagente at one point told this patient: “I’m literally sticking my neck out and can lose my medical license or [be] arrested for what I just did.”

Delagente also was charged with altering medical records of patients who received controlled substance prescriptions from him after law enforcement officials had subpoenaed the records in late April 2019.

Delagente faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on each of the distribution of controlled dangerous substances charges. Delagente faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the charge of falsifying medical records. Sentencing for Delagente is scheduled for June 10, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason S. Gould of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Sean M. Sherman of the Opioids Unit in Newark.