ACCUSED DOCTOR WAS DRUG FIRM SPEAKER

Local Physician Facing Drug And Fraud Charges Had Worked For
OxyContin's Maker 6 Times In 2 Years.

A physician accused of filling OxyContin prescriptions for a drug ring
and billing Indiana's Medicaid program more than $100,000 for the
narcotic also was a paid speaker for the drug's manufacturer.

Federal prosecutors have charged Dr. Randolph W. Lievertz of
Indianapolis with writing about $550,000 in OxyContin prescriptions
this year for Medicaid patients -- six times more than any other
doctor in the state.

Authorities arrested Lievertz, 49, and Melinda D. Hawkins, 36, of
North Vernon on Dec. 20 on charges of unlawful distribution of
OxyContin and health care fraud.

OxyContin, a synthetic morphine, generally is prescribed for severe
pain. It has become widely abused in recent years.

Merle Spiegel, a spokeswoman for Stamford, Conn.-based Purdue Pharma,
said Wednesday that Lievertz had been a paid speaker for the company
six times in the previous two years. He last spoke for Purdue in June.

Dr. Neil Irick, who shared office space with Lievertz in Indianapolis,
said Lievertz often instructed other doctors on using pain medication.

"I think he was a speaker for them because of his expertise in how to
spot patients with addiction problems," Irick said.

Lievertz's office was closed Wednesday.

Lievertz is accused of prescribing OxyContin to Hawkins many times
from December 1998 to this month, U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks said last
week.

Hawkins paid $8 a month for the drug, and the balance -- about
$130,205 -- was paid through Medicaid, Brooks said.

If convicted, Lievertz could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in
prison and a $250,000 fine.

Authorities also arrested three other residents of North Vernon in
connection with the alleged drug ring.