NEWARK - A Haddonfield woman on Tuesday admitted her role in a fraud that caused losses of almost $1 million, authorities said.
Julie Andresen, 39, took payments of about $161,000 as part of a year-long scheme that exploited the prescription drug benefits plan at her former employer, an unnamed pharmaceutical firm, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey.

Authorities said Andresen submitted "medically unnecessary prescriptions" for compounded medications for herself and her husband from September 2014 through September 2015. The medications were scar creams and metabolic vitamins, according to a federal charging document.

Andresen faxed the prescriptions to compounding pharmacies outside New Jersey, which billed her employer's benefits plan for reimbursements of $13,500 to $44,000 for each order, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement. The pharmacies then shared cash from the reimbursements with Andresen.

The commissions also were shared with an unnamed marketing firm that directed Andresen to the pharmacies, authorities allege.
"As part of the scheme, Andresen approached a doctor – who was a close friend – at social gatherings," the statement said. "She would give the doctor pre-printed forms listing compounded medications and ask the doctor to authorize the medications. The doctor did so, as well as authorizing multiple refills."

Andresen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. She is to be sentenced June 7 at federal court in Newark.
Two other former employees of the drug company have previously pleaded guilty to similar offenses, the statement said.

Resource: http://www.courierpostonline.com/