Drug fraud charges lead to suspension of license for Winter Haven nurse practitioner

WINTER HAVEN — Advanced registered nurse practitioner Jodi Lynn Levins’ license to practice has been suspended and may be revoked after she was arrested on charges that she wrote prescriptions for oxycodone for six patients — but kept the pills for herself.

The Florida Department of Health announced this week that Levins is among 39 nurses statewide whose licenses have been placed under emergency suspension or emergency restriction orders because of violations that include commission of crimes, violation of standards of care, drug use, drug diversion, sexual misconduct or student loan default.

Levins, 52, whose address is listed as 737 Waterbridge Drive, Winter Haven, was booked into the Polk County Jail on Dec. 1 and is facing seven counts of trafficking in oxycodone, 33 counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and six counts of criminal use of a person’s ID.

According to the Department of Health emergency suspension order, part of Levins’ job while working for Massassa Medical House Calls was to deliver prescriptions from pharmacies to patients’ homes. Her license allowed her to write prescriptions. Unbeknownst to six patients, she wrote a total of 32 prescriptions for oxycodone in their names in July through October and obtained 896 pills — all of which she kept for herself.

A month before the emergency suspension order was issued on Feb. 20, the state had issued an emergency restriction on her license to practice, which detailed the scenario. Levine started working for Massassa in December 2016. Starting in July and over the course of four months, she wrote the fraudulent prescriptions, each for 28 tablets of oxycodone,the state said.

Levins was fired in September but, according to the allegations, she continued to use the Massassa Medical House Calls prescription pad to prescribe medications. The company notified the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

When interviewed by deputies, the PCSO said Levins told them she has "a problem with pain medication."

According to Levins' profile on the Department of Health website, she earned a master's degree in nursing in December 2015 from Florida Southern College and a nursing degree from Polk State College in December 2006. The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners certified her in gerontology.

Both the criminal charges and final action by the Board of Nursing are pending. Regardless of the criminal proceedings, the Board of Nursing may permanently revoke or suspend Levine’s license, place it under restriction, impose a fine, issue a reprimand, place her on probation or order other corrective action or relief.

Marilyn Meyer can be reaced at marilyn.meyer@theledger.com or 863-802-7558. Follow her on Twitter @marilyn_ledger.