Michigan Physician Agrees to 3-Year Exclusion

On March 8, 2017, Dr. Vinod Sharma, (Dr. Sharma) a Michigan physician and pain management specialist, agreed to be excluded from participation in Medicare and the State health care programs for a period of three years under 42 U.S.C. § 1320c-5 following a referral to OIG by Kepro, the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (QIO). OIG’s investigation determined that Dr. Sharma substantially violated the obligation to provide services (1) of a quality that met professionally recognized standards of health care, and (2) that were supported by evidence of medical necessity and quality in such form and fashion and at such time as was reasonably required by the QIO in the exercise of its duties and responsibilities. Specifically, OIG alleged that Dr. Sharma failed to sufficiently document his response to the results of urine drug screenings and any discussions he had with patients regarding the urine drug screening results when these patients (1) tested positive for illicit drugs; (2) tested positive for controlled substances Dr. Sharma did not prescribe; (3) tested positive for noncontrolled substances Dr. Sharma did not prescribe; or (4) tested negative for controlled substances Dr. Sharma prescribed. Senior Counsel Kristen Schwendinger, Senior Counsel Geoffrey Hymans and Associate Counsel Srishti Sheffner represented OIG.

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