A physician in Margate, N.J., has been barred from practicing medicine while serving a period of supervised release following a healthcare fraud conviction, the Courier Post reported Oct. 20.
What happened?
- Brian Sokalsky, MD, will have his medical license suspended until he completes a criminal sentence imposed in October 2024. Dr. Sokalsky was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $5 million in restitution for his role in a scheme to defraud payers by submitting claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions.
- In June 2017, Dr. Sokalsky authorized prescriptions for former pharmaceutical sales representative Matthew Tedesco. In exchange, Mr. Tedesco referred about 30 patients to Dr. Sokalsky’s new medical practices. Dr. Sokalsky also prescribed medically unnecessary medications, including libido creams for young women, often in excessive quantities and with the maximum number of refills.
- The suspension order will remain in effect throughout Dr. Sokalsky’s supervised release period and until further order of the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners.
