NEWARK - A Jersey City physician arrested for allegedly selling prescriptions for cash payments has agreed to voluntarily surrender his license to practice while the criminal charges are pending.

Bipin J. Parikh, M.D., who practices medicine at offices located on Newark Avenue and Montgomery Avenue, allegedly sold prescriptions for hundreds of dosage units of drugs including Percocet, Vicodin, Viagra, and Levitra for cash. These prescriptions were issued without any physical examinations and/or legitimate medical purpose and were each sold for $60 to $100 in cash.

“We cannot allow this physician to remain in practice based on his alleged conduct. The safety of patients is always our priority,” Attorney General Anne Milgram said.

The BME was prepared to hold a formal hearing to consider suspending Parikh's license if he had not voluntarily agreed to the suspension. The license suspension will remain in effect until the criminal charges are resolved, at which point the BME will consider further action related to Parikh's medical license.

A joint investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Task Force, Drug Enforcement Agency's Diversion Unit, Criminal Justice Medicaid Fraud Unit, and the Jersey City Police Department uncovered the illegal and fraudulent sale of prescriptions by Dr. Parikh. Through a series of undercover visits, Dr. Parikh prescribed hundreds of dosage units of highly addictive narcotic drugs, as well as dangerous prescription legend drugs, to four undercover agents.

On April 15, 2008, Dr. Parikh was arrested by the Jersey City Police and charged with knowingly and purposely manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing or possessing with an intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense Percocet, Vicodin, Lorcet, and/or Endocet by specifically issuing prescriptions in exchange for cash in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(b)(4). These charges will be prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice-Medicaid Fraud Unit.

Deputy Attorney General Doreen A. Hafner is representing the state in this matter.

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