When doctors and other licensed medical professionals get accused of unethical or unprofessional behavior, they often must face sanctions from their state regulatory board. These sanctions can be strict, possibly amounting to license revocation. Many boards are willing to reach an agreement with doctors, however, and offer lesser sanctions in return for the doctor taking responsibility for their alleged actions. A doctor in New Jersey recently pursued this option with his state board, and it allowed him to keep his license. 

If you are a doctor or healthcare provider with a license at risk, our Professional License Defense Team can help. Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or fill out a contact form so we can discuss your case with you. 

New Jersey Doctor Guilty of Health Care Fraud Pleads Guilty 

A longtime family doctor, Dr. Richard Costa, was charged with health care fraud and sentenced to six months of home confinement in March 2023. In January 2024, he came to an agreement with the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners concerning his license as well. Since Dr. Costa had pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud, the board had already required him to complete a period of active supervision for four months prior to their agreement. 

The board agreed to stay Dr. Costa's license suspension, and he'll continue to practice, but on probation. His probationary period will last until, at minimum, August 2027. The consent order with the board also requires Dr. Costa to pay a $10,000 fine and complete a board-approved course in ethics while on probation. 

Dr. Costa has been a family doctor in New Jersey for many years and has a notable career serving his community. The board took these factors into account when agreeing to his consent order.

What to Do If Your State Regulatory Board Offers You a Consent Order 

If you are a healthcare provider accused of unethical or unprofessional behavior, you'll most likely find yourself in trouble with your state medical board. You'll also probably have the option to pursue a consent order or agreement with the board in order to have fewer sanctions on your license. 

Before you accept the agreement, it's crucial to know whether it will truly benefit you and your career. You don't want to accept responsibility for the accusations against you only to find out that the consequences have a dire effect later on. 

Our team of Professional License Defense attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help you negotiate a consent order with your state board that's favorable to you. We can also review an agreement the board has already offered and let you know if it's in your best interest or not. We handle license issues for doctors and medical professionals all over the country, and we can help you fight to keep your license. 

Call our firm today at 888-535-3686 or submit an online form, and a member of our team will get back to you to discuss your case.