NELIGH, Nebraska – A former pharmacy owner in Neligh and Tilden has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay over $573,000 in restitution to Medicare and Medicaid for prescription fraud. Danelle Charf, 49, of Neligh, was found guilty of billing for name-brand prescriptions but supplying customers with generic brands, as well as submitting hundreds of reimbursement claims for prescriptions that were never filled.

The investigation into the Tilden Pharmacy and Wanek Pharmacy in Neligh was sparked by a tip, leading to a probe by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Nebraska Attorney General’s Office in the fall of 2020.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Robert Rossiter sentenced Charf to two months’ imprisonment, along with three years of supervised release and required payment of $573,337 in restitution to Medicare and Medicaid.

This case sheds light on the issue of prescription fraud and the severe consequences it can have on both individuals and government healthcare programs. The fraudulent billing not only took advantage of the system but also put patients at risk by providing them with generic drugs instead of the name-brand prescriptions that were claimed.

It is crucial for pharmacies to adhere to strict ethical and legal standards to ensure the wellbeing of patients and the integrity of healthcare programs. This case serves as a reminder of the serious repercussions that individuals and businesses can face for committing healthcare fraud. The significant restitution and prison sentence imposed on Charf emphasize the severity of the offense and the importance of upholding ethical standards in the healthcare industry.