CMS Medical Director Put On Leave

Baltimore

CMS Medical Director Sean Tunis has been placed on administrative leave, following charges of falsifying medical records.

The Maryland Board of Physicians charged Tunis with altering documents to show he had complied with state continuing medical education requirements — necessary to maintain his license and medical privileges at Mercy Medical Center, where he works part-time. The government put the director of the Office of Clinical Standards and Quality on leave on April 7, according to a CMS spokesman.

Dr. Barry Straube of CMS’ Region IX in San Francisco has taken Tunis’ place as the agency’s acting chief medical officer. The spokesman did not comment on whether Tunis would return to his position if the situation with the Maryland board were resolved.

According to a report from the Maryland board, Tunis addressed the allegations in a written response, saying he attempted to reproduce lost records of CME credits he had obtained legitimately.

The board began its investigation after receiving an anonymous complaint in July 2002. Tunis wrote that it came from a “disgruntled CMS subordinate” whom he passed over for a promotion.