| NEWARK
– The New Jersey State Board of Medical
Examiners has adopted a hearing committee’s
decision to temporarily suspend the license
of North Jersey doctor Kenneth Zahl, accused
by the State of repeatedly violating board
orders that placed restrictions on his medical
and billing practices, Attorney General
Zulima V. Farber and Consumer Affairs Director
Kimberly Ricketts announced.
The
board issued its decision Wednesday after
reviewing the report of the committee, which
concluded that Zahl’s continued practice
of medicine represents a clear and imminent
threat to the public’s health, safety
and welfare. The committee conducted a three-day
hearing last month on the State’s
request for a temporary suspension of Zahl’s
license.
Wednesday, Zahl immediately filed an appeal
with the New Jersey Supreme Court seeking
to stay the board’s decision. The
application was denied. The suspension took
effect yesterday and will remain in effect
pending a full hearing before the Office
of Administrative Law and further review
by the board.
“We
are pleased with the decisions of the board
and the Supreme Court,” Director Ricketts
said. “The board’s action removes
from practice a physician who, we allege,
has repeatedly flouted board orders that
are designed to ensure compliance with state
laws.”
Zahl,
an anesthesiologist who maintained practices
in Newton, Union, Rockaway, Morristown and
Saddle Brook, had his license revoked in
2003, when an administrative law judge found
that he manufactured false and inaccurate
patient records; retained duplicate payments
from insurance companies for services; and
inserted overlapping time entries into records
of at least 100 patients. Following the
ALJ’s ruling, the board revoked Zahl’s
license and ordered him to pay more than
$250,000 in penalties, attorneys fees and
costs. Zahl appealed to the Appellate Division,
which affirmed the board’s findings,
but stayed the revocation pending a further
hearing before the board. The Appellate
Division’s stay was conditioned upon
Dr. Zahl’s satisfaction of reporting
requirements imposed by the board and oversight
of the financial and billing activities
at his medical practice.
The suspension stems from a complaint filed
by the State alleging that Zahl failed to
comply with the reporting and oversight
requirements ordered by the board. Deputy
Attorney General Paul R. Kenny, section
chief for professional boards prosecutions,
and Deputy Attorney General Jeri Warhaftig
are handling this matter for the State.
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