The Iowa Board of Medicine has given a permanent medical license to a physician whose clinical privileges were allegedly revoked by the Veterans Health Care System in 2023, the Des Moines Register reported Aug. 29.
In April 2023, Kumar Bobba, MD, a cardiologist, had his clinical privileges suspended by the VA’s healthcare arm, the publication reported. In October 2023, he had his privileges revoked and his termination from the system was recommended by the state medical board.
According to the report, the board has not disclosed the reasons for Dr. Bobba’s recommended termination from the system, but federal records indicate he was working for VA Central Iowa Health Care at the time.
In March 2024, Dr. Bobba received “verbal notification of a suspension of privileges” from a medical provider that the board opted to not identify in public filings, according to the publication. He subsequently resigned from that organization.
Later that month, Dr. Bobba submitted his application for a permanent Iowa medical license. According to the Register, it is unclear which type of medical license under which Dr. Bobba had previously been working in the state, but physicians licensed by the VA are authorized to work in any state. Court records obtained by the publication indicated Dr. Bobba had previous conflicts with the VA’s healthcare system. In 2009, he was sued by a former employer, Cardiovascular Medicine, which alleged he had violated a noncompete clause in his contract after being fired.
According to a trial brief filed by Cardiovascular Medicine, Dr. Bobba had been placed on unpaid leave in July 2008. The company said this was due to a previous suspension of privileges in a catheterization laboratory at Trinity Hospital in Terrace Park, Iowa, and Trinity West in Rock Island, Ill. He was then “terminated with cause” after a four-month leave, according to the records.
Cardiovascular Medicine then lost its lawsuit against Dr. Bobba, in which a judge ruled the damages caused to Dr. Bobba by the noncompete clause in his contract outweighed any harm experienced by the company.
Dr. Bobba’s physician and surgeon license in Illinois expired in 2023, according to the state Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, due to a “violation of his October 2021 IDFPR Care, Counseling and Treatment Agreement.”
The Iowa Board of Medicine agreed to grant Dr. Bobba a permanent Iowa medical license subject to one year of probation that will include a practice monitoring program. The practice monitor is tasked with informing the board of any evidence of professional incompetency, any practice harmful to the public, delays in completing medical records, alteration of medical records, improper disposal or reuse of medication or any other violation of the terms of his probation agreement.
Dr. Bobba’s attorney told the Register he was unaware of any past disciplinary issues involving the physician and was unable to comment on the matter.
