Subject Numbers Regarding Health Provider Authorizations

Authorization No. 193664-0B

September 21, 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. Paul J. Sorell, III’s authorizations to treat injured workers and to perform independent medical examinations in the New York State workers’ compensation system effective July 29, 2015. Dr. Sorell's last known business address is 775 Park Avenue, Suite 154, Huntington, New York 11743.

The Chair’s designee’s investigation revealed that the New York State Department of Health, State Board for Professional Medical Conduct (BPMC) has issued Order # 15-028, wherein Dr. Sorell was not able to successfully defend against at least one act of misconduct alleged, including that he deviated from medically accepted standards, inappropriately prescribed opiate medications, failed to take adequate steps to ensure proper patient use of medication, and failed to maintain accurate medical records, resulting in the penalty of his New York State license to practice medicine being limited to preclude him from prescribing controlled substances in doses greater than 200 mg per day, and a three (3) year probationary period, during which he must maintain a prescribing log to the satisfaction of the Office of Professional Misconduct, complete personalized continuing medical education of no fewer than 200 hours of combined supervised patient evaluation, appropriately identifying patients at increased risk for opioid abuse, proper opioid prescribing, appropriate follow-up, and appropriate measures against abuse of prescriptions, and he may only practice medicine when monitored by a licensed physician, board certified in an appropriate specialty (“Practice Monitor”).

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

Dr. Sorell is prohibited from rendering treatment and care to injured workers and from performing independent medical examinations while his authorizations are temporarily suspended. Reports submitted by Dr. Sorell for services rendered prior to July 29, 2015, are valid, but are invalid for any services rendered on or after that date. Requests to cross-examine Dr. Sorell for services rendered prior to July 29, 2015, should not be denied due to the suspension of his authorizations.

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.