A Jersey City neurologist’s license was revoked by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners after ruling that he “acted solely as a drug dealer,” Acting Attorney General John Jay Hoffman announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Dr. Magdy Elamir had his license revoked by the board this week and is forced to pay $100,000 in civil penalties, as well as covering the investigating and prosecuting fees of the state: a hefty $169,009.40, authorities said.
“This action shows the power the Board of Medical Examiners can wield to protect the public from doctors who abuse their authority,† Hoffman said in a prepared statement.
“Dr. Elamir was arrested in 2009 and indicted on multiple counts – but ultimately pleaded guilty to a much lesser charge and received a suspended sentence. It is only because of the Board’s action that he has been prevented from practicing medicine since 2009 and is now barred from the medical profession.â€
An administrative law judge previously stated that Elamir’s operation more closely resembled “a criminal drug deal than a medical evaluation,” since the doctor would not even perform a routine medical evaluation before prescribing drugs such as Percocet, Xanax and Advair – the latter being an asthma medication that also has a high street value.
Elamir was first arrested as part of “Operation Medscam” in 2009, a join effort between the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and and the Jersey City Police Department, records show.
Following his arrest, the NJ Board of Medical Examiners issued a temporary suspension of Elamir’s medical license that remained in effect until his license was revoked this week, officials said.
Additionally, the board determined that Elamir was guilty of “upcoding”: dishonestly embellishing the number of daily patient visits he had in order to overcharge Medicare for services he allegedly provided.
On one date that was investigated, October, 19, 2009, Elamir’s office log said that he treated 44 patients and if he spent just 25 minutes with each patient, he would’ve worked a 19-hour shift between 8 a.m. and 3 a.m. the next day, the board determined.
Elamir has the option to appeal the the Board’s ruling before the State Appellate Division.
