Pain clinic reopens after FBI raid; patients still having problems

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A pain management clinic that was closed following a federal raid is back open, but some patients are still having troubles.

The three offices of Bluegrass Pain Consultants in Louisville and LaGrange abruptly closed Tuesday.

Patients who had appointments and those whose expiring prescriptions were left in limbo, wondering how to get their medications. The office opened back up on Friday, but WAVE 3 News learned patients who need their medication are still going through loopholes. Several of them have contacted WAVE 3 News because they don't know what to do.

A WAVE 3 News crew on Monday went looking for answers from officials at Bluegrass Pain Consultants off Dutchmans Parkway, but was asked to leave.

The office issued a statement saying:

"For over 10 years we have been proud to provide exceptional patient care to our community. We look forward to continuing to serve our patients and ware grateful for their continued trust. - Christopher L. Nelson, M.D. DABPM, FIPP."

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FBI and DEA agents were in and out of the Bluegrass Pain Consultants offices in Louisville and LaGrange on Tuesday. The offices are located at 10241 Champion Farms Drive in Louisville; 6400 Dutchmans Parkway, Suite 60 in Louisville and 1009 New Moody Lane in LaGrange.

Kentucky State Police and LMPD officers also assisted in the raid, taking in empty boxes and coming out with them full of evidence and taken out in a moving van. Law enforcement wouldn't say why they were investigating.

The FBI sent a statement to WAVE 3 News last week:

"We {FBI} are conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity at multiple locations around Louisville as part of an ongoing investigation. Since it's an ongoing investigation, we do not have further comment. There is no danger to the community."

The FBI said it had no additional information since then.

On Monday, patients told WAVE 3 News that some pharmacies were refusing to fill prescriptions from Bluegrass Pain Consultants because of the investigation.

Leanna Humphrey, of New Albany, broke her back twice. Humphrey has been a patient at Bluegrass Pain Consultants for the past seven months. She was able to get her prescription Friday but tried getting it filled at Kroger in New Albany and was denied. She then turned to Walmart and was denied again.

"They said because Bluegrass was under investigation they were on a list that they couldn't be honored," Humphrey said. "(Kroger) were kind enough to call Walmart, which is close to us also and they refused to fill it also."

Humprey said she has severe back pain and needs her meds to function.

"I have constant pain, I don't sleep well," Humphrey said.

On Monday afternoon, Humphrey finally was able to get her medication from a Walgreen's.

Matt Clark, of Louisville, is also a patient who is out of his medication. Clark wasn't able to see anyone last week when the office was closed, and now has to wait until July 10 to get an appointment at the office.

"They are booked," Clark said. "If you miss your appointment, you can't call and get another one tomorrow. There is no tomorrow. You gotta get in line."

Clark said he doesn't know what he will do since he will be in so much pain until he can get his medicine.

According to the Bluegrass Pain Consultants website, doctors offer treatment of chronic and acute pain. Dr. Christopher Nelson is the President/CEO and Dr. Brandon Sutton and Dr. Alexander Sinofsky are also physicians with the group.

WAVE 3 News reached out to experts in the medical field, and they advise that if patients cannot get their prescription or an appointment at Bluegrass Pain Consultants, they should contact the doctor who originally referred them to Bluegrass Pain Consultants to find out what to do next.

Pharmacists told WAVE 3 News they can refuse to fill prescriptions.

The Kentucky Board of Medical licensure said doctors affiliated with Bluegrass still have their licenses.

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