Subject Numbers Regarding Health Provider Authorizations

Authorization No. P05044-4W

August 11, 2015

Pursuant to Workers' Compensation Law Section 13-d(4), the Chair of the New York State Workers' Compensation Board has exercised his authority to temporarily suspend Dr. Stephen E. Owusu’s authorization to treat injured workers within the New York State workers’ compensation system effective July 16, 2015. Dr. Owusu's last known business address is 106 Pennsylvania Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207.

The Chair’s designee’s investigation revealed that on November 20, 2013, Dr. Owusu pled guilty in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York to the illegal distribution of oxycodone to individuals who were not his patients in exchange for cash, including the sale of over 450 prescriptions for oxycodone to individuals who were not his patients for $300 a prescription, resulting in a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000.00 fine, and as a result of which Dr. Owusu agreed to surrender his DEA registration number permitting him to issue controlled substance prescriptions.

Therefore, the Chair believes that Dr. Owusu may be guilty of misconduct, and that such misconduct would detrimentally affect the quality of care provided to injured workers.

Dr. Owusu is prohibited from rendering treatment and care to injured workers while his authorization is temporarily suspended. Reports submitted by Dr. Owusu for services rendered prior to July 16, 2015, are valid, but are invalid for any services rendered on or after that date. Requests to cross-examine Dr. Owusu for services rendered prior to July 16, 2015, should not be denied due to the suspension of his authorization.

This suspension remains in effect until further notice. Any questions regarding the authorized lists should be referred to the Medical Director’s Office at 1 (800) 781-2362.