“Consent Order” consequences (again, often obtained by coercion, under duress) are generally not appreciated by those that sign them until after they’ve been signed.  Consequences include;

1.     Difficulty obtaining medical malpractice coverage.  Any coverage after signing a consent order, especially for a suspension (even including one that is immediately stayed) will at the very least involve much higher premiums if available at all.

2.    Employment is likely to be terminated.  The days of the solo independent practitioner are pretty much gone.  Healthcare and billing requirements have become complex enough that they virtually require resources that a solo practitioner cannot provide.  Employment will likely be terminated; future employment opportunities will be severely, adversely impacted.

3.    Hospital privileges will suffer adverse effects.  Current privileges are likely to be removed, or restricted.  Future privileging will be much more difficult.

4.    Other state licensing boards must be notified of an adverse action.  They will frequently invoke “reciprocal action”, fines and other consequences are not uncommon.  Even state licenses that are currently inactive are likely to be affected, with the possibility of fines and further procedures against licensure.

5.    DEA privileges may become involved.

6.    Medicare/Medicaid privileges will probably be sanctioned.  CMS requires that any disciplinary action be reported within 30 days.  Failure to do so involves more severe consequences.  The federal government has been taking a more aggressive stance against physicians who fail to self-report.  It’s likely that CMS will drop the affected provider from the ability to have CMS billed for their services, rendering the physician unemployable.

7.    Private insurance coverage will doubtlessly be sanctioned.  If a provider is dropped from ANY insurance company panels, they are virtually unemployable.  An employer cannot be paid by that insurer for any work that the affected provider performs.

8.    Board Certification and membership in any specialty societies will be at risk of being discontinued.

9.    Litigation is often attracted by dissatisfied patients (for whatever reason) once a practitioner receives disciplinary action of this sort.

10.Future opportunities to serve as an expert witness are very unlikely.

11.Such actions will be listed permanently on the NCMB’s website.  These actions can act as a “lightening rod” to attract future complaints from patients dissatisfied for ANY reason at all (Eg. Failure to prescribe enough controlled substances, as has generated complaints against me twice).

12.Possibility of media exposure.

13.Reporting to the National Practitioner Databank is required for ANY disciplinary action by ANY State Medical Board, Specialty Society or Certifying organization, Hospital or other healthcare institution.  Once an event occurs, any other state where licensure is held will also occur. It too MUST be reported to the databank.  There is a huge “snowball” effect from these actions.