Tunis Fined $20,000, Given One-Year Medical Suspension

BALTIMORE–CMS Medical Director Sean Tunis has agreed to a
one-year suspension of his medical license and a $20,000 fine for
falsifying documents to show he met continuing medical education
requirements.

The physician was placed on administrative leave by CMS in
April, a few months after the Maryland Board of Physicians charged
him with falsifying records, failing to comply with subpoenas and
unprofessional conduct. The board’s 15-page charging document
accused Tunis of falsely claiming to have completed 50 credit hours
of continuing medical education–required to maintain a medical
license in the state–and submitting altered documents to
investigators.

Tunis admitted to falsifying documents and signed a consent
order from the Maryland board May 25. In addition to a fine and
license suspension, the order also requires Tunis to take an ethics
course and complete 35 hours of continuing medical education
credits.

“I decided to sign this order because I acknowledge that I made
a mistake and I wish to accept responsibility for it,” he said in a
statement. “Now that this order is signed, I look forward to
continuing my public service and my career in public health
policy.”

A spokesman for Tunis said he resigned from his part-time
position at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. CMS officials would
not comment on whether Tunis would return to his position as
medical director and director of the Office of Clinical Standards
and Quality. As the agency’s medical chief, Tunis headed the
government’s Interagency Wheelchair Work Group, which worked last
year to develop new coverage guidance for Medicare’s mobility
benefit.

Since Tunis’ departure, Barry Straube of CMS’ Region IX in San
Francisco has been serving as CMS’ acting chief medical
officer.