[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6383468,"mediaKeyId","2124229-699268ded6dbaf2a62e89e92e23086c9","parentId",2124229,"title","Applicant Miguel Antonados withdraws Mississippi license application after Washington telemedicine order draws scrutiny","audioSeconds",8304,"startMs",22139000,"endMs",30443000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2124229-699268ded6dbaf2a62e89e92e23086c9&start=22139&end=30443","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2124229-699268ded6dbaf2a62e89e92e23086c9/thumbnail_22139000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6383468/Mississippi/Applicant-Miguel-Antonados-withdraws-Mississippi-license-application-after-Washington-telemedicine-order-draws-scrutiny","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383468-53bbcb3ed79443f0cd04846f5196a6f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770400614&Signature=RrvISlAQp4L0kDDipYrAvCAUHEXXeOVwxFTbtOzn-UVI~0xBiLnNpk96fJ~hHdlBWRFHcv3V7p99yO4q~yiYa8ecqPbAY19z1hAH4YujM3IODIQhgKIfzWb~RqD0ItuLvPGdKirIMjERkyG4osyZSnQBsxDcHwMIStbW~l9t5ZpuFULRTeHHFTNZKjiVr-4-zSw0h2GGNYuYEi7cKHBnCs4OKRXP2o~zLBcPWOmfAugIxFhiqdKGSfJgVkyJaXrq~ICvT4Tx3tt2~s-C8XpyLh-fye8F4805BKRSVwfrza7ID1SextXDLecP54floXtfRNsitAqBGGPEUWxEZv8ZZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-17T06:54:36.83Z","article","Miguel Antonados, a physician who practices primarily through telemedicine, withdrew his application for a Mississippi medical license during a show-cause hearing after the State Board of Medical Licensure reviewed an agreed order entered by the Washington Medical Commission.

What the board reviewed: The Washington agreed order, entered in August 2023 and signed by Antonados and counsel, states that Antonados prescribed ivermectin for at least four Washington residents after patient encounters that began through an online questionnaire; the order says those encounters lacked a previously established physician–patient relationship and that real-time audio–visual consultation was not used in those specific cases. The Washington order (stipulated findings, conclusions and agreed order) imposed conditions including requirements for video-based telemedicine for new patients and continuing medical-education requirements.

Applicant’s position: Antonados told the Mississippi board he uses synchronous audio–visual consultation as his primary telemedicine modality, supplements it with secure messaging and lab arrangements, and disputed the Washington commission’s factual account. He told the board his telemedicine vendor (Medici) cut off access to full patient records and said the commission did not see the complete records; he said he was collecting patient affidavits to corroborate that live video interactions took place. Antonados also described beginning his telemedicine work in 2018, continuing hospital-based practice through 2021 and treating patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mississippi telemedicine standard: Board staff introduced Mississippi’s telemedicine rules, which define real-time telemedicine as interactive audio–visual communication and permit store-and-forward (asynchronous) elements only to enhance, not replace, real-time interactions. The rule also requires verification of patient identity, an appropriate history and examination meeting the standard of care, and a plan for follow-up care and medical-record retention.

Outcome at the hearing: After taking evidence and hearing testimony from the applicant and counsel, the applicant withdrew his Mississippi application. The withdrawal was recorded on the transcript and the board closed the matter.

Context: The Washington order is now part of Antonados’ licensing history and other states’ reactions to Washington’s action appeared in his Mississippi licensure file (the applicant provided correspondence showing varied outcomes in other states). The board noted the Washington order and Mississippi telemedicine regulations when conducting its review. Antonados withdrew his application rather than await a licensing decision; that withdrawal leaves in place the Washington commission’s conditions as a recorded action in his licensure history and leaves any federal or interstate consequences for other agencies to resolve.

Sources: Exhibits included the Washington Medical Commission agreed order, the applicant’s licensure file, and Mississippi telemedicine regulations (part 2635, chapter 5).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jan 2025 Board Meeting Day 2","oneSentenceSummary","Miguel Antonados, a physician who practices primarily through telemedicine, withdrew his application for a Mississippi medical license during a show-cause hearing after the State Board of Medical Licensure reviewed an agreed order entered by the Washington Medical Commission.","taxTitle","State Board of Medical Licensure, Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Mississippi","taxId",31004,"location","Mississippi","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6383473,"Board dismisses charges against Dr. Harold Pelton after hearing; non-adjudicated plea and OIG exclusion noted",10812,11301000,22113000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2124229-699268ded6dbaf2a62e89e92e23086c9&start=11301&end=22113","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2124229-699268ded6dbaf2a62e89e92e23086c9/thumbnail_11301000.jpg","/articles/6383473/Mississippi/Board-dismisses-charges-against-Dr-Harold-Pelton-after-hearing-non-adjudicated-plea-and-OIG-exclusion-noted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383473-4d6bed2d898dc5b0f6e0b77a775a84d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770400614&Signature=Ot-aSgEuoHhGTdtGKu645lF6Xt7IMygXxW~K3A4bnxB41QwQ25A9IiYpCCcjy-3O8Vf6BcABEwj~QoOXeQjRYCHwzbleSahd1hUpp9jeZEIvrbx~4-~NY2z9x6C5CAVfRQM35yylW0ENhYdJjYpfmvcK52Pq3~0kMe6xcdxoensSm-9-5fGUkrlTVRsIC~UxC9U1N5OvLbRhhW~~kQ4~q9MinUY9xyqlvhFSzL2Yo6pyGfNU0E6YJjFdMR1zlVIBN0fIXnuvQvlX75bHogQINbnSTcpB8qG1ixrZjpm1c-cA0LaTYS51em2LZJquf127xxrW6a8qld0swC-1I~3zbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Board of Medical Licensure dismissed disciplinary charges Wednesday against ophthalmologist Dr. Harold Lee Pelton following a contested hearing. The decision came after the board reviewed records that included a state indictment that was ultimately resolved through a plea package and a non-adjudication order.

Why it matters: The case raises the intersection of criminal plea practices, state disciplinary authority and federal administrative exclusion. Pelton’s advocates told the board the matters that led to administrative action were largely billing disputes that had been the subject of audits and settlements and that the non-adjudication in state court, as well as administrative decisions at the federal level, warranted no additional state licensing sanction.

What the board heard: Counsel for the prosecution described a multi-stage history: a Medicare/ZPIC audit that identified disputed billings, a subsequent federal review that resulted in repayment and a later state Medicaid 16-count indictment. Pelton and his attorney, Tom Kirkland, told the board that Pelton negotiated a resolution with the attorney general’s office that included a single guilty plea that the circuit court then non-adjudicated and converted into three years of unsupervised probation with conditions (court costs and a small fine). Pelton testified the conduct underlying the state action arose from coding and billing disputes — he described changes in Medicare carrier policy during the period at issue and said payments were repaid to resolve the related audits.

The transcript includes reference to an administrative law judge’s decision on a federal OIG exclusion appeal that described the underlying facts as closer to a billing error than criminal fraud but concluded that the OIG’s authority nonetheless supported exclusion; Pelton’s counsel argued that the ALJ’s opinion and a pending waiver request to OIG justified leniency by the board. Pelton testified about long-term service in an underserved area, high patient volume, reliance on older coding guidance and the disruption the proceedings caused for his family.

Board action: After retiring to executive session to consider the evidence and the record, the board announced it would dismiss the charges against Pelton. The board directed staff to document the dismissal; no additional public conditions were announced.

Context and next steps: Pelton remains on the OIG exclusion list unless and until a federal waiver or rescission is granted; the board’s dismissal means the state licensing division will not impose a state disciplinary restriction based on the matters it reviewed at this hearing. Pelton’s attorneys indicated they are pursuing administrative and federal remedies regarding the OIG exclusion and any remaining collateral effects.

Sources: Board exhibits included the state indictment and plea transcripts, a non-adjudication order from circuit court, federal audit materials and the administrative law judge opinion on OIG exclusion proceedings.","After a lengthy hearing that reviewed a state Medicaid indictment, a non-adjudication plea and a federal exclusion appeal, the State Board of Medical Licensure dismissed the disciplinary charges against Dr. Harold Pelton.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6383476,"State board grants Nathaniel Brown a conditional, restricted medical license after show-cause hearing",10678,488000,11166000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2124229-699268ded6dbaf2a62e89e92e23086c9&start=488&end=11166","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2124229-699268ded6dbaf2a62e89e92e23086c9/thumbnail_488000.jpg","/articles/6383476/Mississippi/State-board-grants-Nathaniel-Brown-a-conditional-restricted-medical-license-after-show-cause-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383476-bcf3604104e8781757b49c0f48a7ce94/orig.mp4?Expires=1770400614&Signature=NAZm22EaHHlffZ0958S4aFuUhYaGQ754FLJRklzx2VH-~8Z6AkWqTqHtSiVR0zxWv98c7w3gRaCrtjJkhYyiDvqcwrKHlOR2h21jkusllm9JrlmFhQlbcE33kIXNbnsf4njvRHSgsUyw2o0o82jMXrUofSK9IX6nXHCtnbzDiVOPu4JrwBOj4gOoaCnWbBy7EM3liVhNdGvLO4l8nxUi1dgjU34Fs0SKc7OaquvG6ibILqJDODeTmwL~woAqBKlSZAyj6CfGCMu6xFBfrb7R~st62xqmBuhK7GQ9cmN-4seZZbObtHC~-8X9WeVbWPQi0fsDQ-RqH3WI-4NsOhK8SA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Board of Medical Licensure approved a conditional, restricted medical license Wednesday for Dr. Nathaniel Brown, who sought reinstatement after a 2016 federal health-care fraud conviction and subsequent administrative sanctions.

The board’s hearing officer, Alexis Morris, summarized evidence that Brown pleaded guilty in federal court to one count tied to a scheme to certify hospice patients who were not eligible and that a federal court ordered roughly $1.94 million in restitution. Morris also noted that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) placed Brown on the federal exclusion list.

Why it matters: The board cited the seriousness and health-system implications of the underlying fraud allegations and the OIG exclusion when considering whether to restore Brown’s license. But the board also considered recent evaluations Brown completed and his statements about rehabilitation.

At the hearing, Brown testified that he pleaded guilty on advice of counsel, that he had paid and was continuing to pay restitution in installments (he described an individual liability figure of $570,839.49 in the court record and joint-and-several exposure that contributed to the roughly $1.94 million total), and that his supervised release (parole) ended in March 2023. Brown told the board he had completed a CPAP clinical assessment in January 2022 and described work he claims to have done in public-health and coroner-related roles since his prison sentence.

Board counsel, Paul Barnes, reviewed the plea agreement, the court sentence (described at the hearing as 39 months’ incarceration and three years of supervised release), and the OIG letters placing Brown on the exclusion list for an extended period. Barnes told the board those matters, together with the board’s 2018 revocation order, formed the statutory bases for the show-cause action.

After questioning and discussion in executive session, the board announced it would grant Brown a conditional, restricted license. The conditions announced publicly require Brown to complete an updated CPAP evaluation, complete a board-approved ethics course and a board-approved reentry program, and to refrain from working in hospice or home-health settings or collaborating with advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in those areas. The board also said Brown may petition the board again after fulfilling the stated requirements, but not in less than one year.

The board did not announce a roll-call vote tally during the public reading of the decision. The board president and hearing officer indicated further administrative details (for example, how to contact the executive director about compliance) would be supplied to Brown in writing.

Looking ahead: Brown must complete the stated conditions and follow the board’s reporting requirements before the restriction can be lifted. The OIG exclusion remains separate from the board’s licensing action and may continue to limit Brown’s ability to bill federal programs until/unless the OIG rescinds or modifies that exclusion.

Sources: The board admitted the applicant’s pleadings, plea agreement, sentencing and restitution documents, the OIG exclusion printouts, the CPAP assessment, and the board’s 2018 revocation order into evidence during the hearing.","After a show-cause hearing over his 2016 health-care fraud conviction and OIG exclusion, the State Board of Medical Licensure approved a conditional restricted license for Dr. Nathaniel Brown with several requirements including an updated CPAP evaluation, course work and practice restrictions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Applicant Miguel Antonados withdraws Mississippi license application after Washington telemedicine order draws scrutiny

Board dismisses charges against Dr. Harold Pelton after hearing; non-adjudicated plea and OIG exclusion noted

State board grants Nathaniel Brown a conditional, restricted medical license after show-cause hearing