The United States has filed a civil complaint against nurse practitioner Joan Rubinger, registered in Stockton, that alleges a long-running nationwide scheme to sell illegal opioid prescriptions for cash. The lawsuit asks the Court to prohibit Rubinger from prescribing controlled substances and to impose civil penalties on Rubinger for her conduct in providing more than 900 illegitimate prescriptions to customers around the country. According to court documents, between Nov. 1, 2019, and June 17, 2024, Rubinger traveled from city to city, providing a range of services from intravenous flushes to prescriptions for controlled substances. Her unorthodox practice consisted of her, a personal assistant, and a person who managed billing. No licensed physician supervises Rubinger, and no licensed physician is associated with, or employed by, her practice. She usually met customers in non-medical environments, such as hotel rooms, without access to necessary diagnostic tools, proper medical records, or any other infrastructure required to treat chronic pain.
