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Nikolay Yelizarov (00378)

Date of action: November 21, 2013

Description of action taken

On August 31, 2011, the CTCMA initiated an investigation under s.33 of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183 (the “Act”) in response to a complaint received by a private insurance company alleging that the Registrant was involved in an improper billing scheme. The insurer alleged that a company (“A”) issued receipts for acupuncture services provided by the Registrant which were not in fact provided, which enabled members of the insurer to receive reimbursement for acupuncture services that could be used as credits to purchase nonprescription goods from another company (“B”) also operated by the owner of the first company. After completing its investigation of the complaint, the Inquiry Committee directed the Registrar to issue a Citation to attend a Discipline Hearing under s.37 of the Act. Prior to the commencement of the discipline hearing, the Inquiry Committee accepted a settlement proposal under s. 37.1 of the Act.

Reasons for action taken

The Inquiry Committee directed the issuance of a citation as it was concerned that the Registrant had engaged in professional misconduct by allowing his name and College registration number to be used on claims to the insurer for acupuncture services that he did not provide and that he failed to maintain adequate clinical records.

Action taken

Prior to the commencement of the discipline hearing, the Registrant submitted a settlement proposal under s. 37.1 of the Act. The Inquiry Committee accepted the settlement proposal and issued a consent order under s. 37.1 which has the same effect as an order of a Discipline Committee. Under the terms of the Consent Order, the Registrant agreed to:

  1. a reprimand;
  2. a suspension of his registration for a period of three months;
  3. payment of a fine in the amount of $10,000 within 30 days of the date of the Consent Order; and
  4. payment of investigative costs in the amount of $7,867.05 calculated in accordance with the tariff under the College bylaws within 30 days of the date of the Consent Order.