FEDERATION OF CHIROPRACTIC LICENSING BOARDS

76th Educational Conference & Annual Meeting

Knickerbocker Hotel

Chicago, Illinois

 

Hot Legal Issues in Chiropractic Regulation

 

May 3, 2002

 

Michael R. Moran, J.D., CFE+

Legislative Counsel

Ohio State Chiropractic Board

 

The Ohio example, Amended Substitute House Bill 506:

 

 

 

 

v     Unlicensed Practice (Civil Remedy) & Cost Recovery

 

§ 4734.49 Injunction against violation; unlicensed practice constitutes public nuisance. 

Text of Statute

(A) The attorney general, the prosecuting attorney of the county in which a violation of this chapter is committed or is threatened to be committed or in which the offender resides, the state chiropractic board, or any other person having knowledge of a person committing or threatening to commit a violation of this chapter may, in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Code governing injunctions, maintain an action in the name of this state to enjoin the person from committing the violation by applying for an injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction. Upon the filing of a verified petition in court, the court shall conduct a hearing on the petition and shall give the same preference to this proceeding as is given all proceedings under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, irrespective of the position of the proceeding on the calendar of the court. If the court grants a final or permanent injunction that is a final appealable order, the court may award to the person or entity that maintained the action an amount not exceeding five thousand dollars to cover reasonable attorney's fees, investigative costs, and other costs related to the investigation or prosecution of the case. Injunction proceedings brought under this section shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, all penalties and other remedies provided in this chapter.

(B) The practice of chiropractic by any person not at that time holding a valid and current license issued under this chapter is hereby declared to be inimical to the public welfare and to constitute a public nuisance.

HISTORY: 148 v H 506. Eff 4-10-2001.


 

 

v     Unlicensed Practice (Criminal Remedy)

 

§ 4734.99 Penalties. 

Text of Statute

(A) Whoever violates section 4734.14 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree on a first offense, unless the offender previously has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.40, 2913.47, 2913.48, 2913.51, 2921.13, 4715.09, 4723.03, 4725.02, 4725.41, 4729.27, 4729.28, 4729.36, 4729.51, 4729.61, 4730.02, 4731.41, 4731.43, 4731.46, 4731.47, 4731.60, 4732.21, 4741.18, 4741.19, 4755.48, 4757.02, 4759.02, 4761.10, or 4773.02 of the Revised Code or an offense under an existing or former law of this state, another state, or the United States that is or was substantially equivalent to a violation of any of those sections, in which case the offender is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree. For each subsequent offense, the offender is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.

(B) Whoever violates section 4734.161 [4734.16.1] of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

 

(C) Whoever violates division (A), (B), (C), or (D) of section 4734.32 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense; on each subsequent offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, except that an individual guilty of a subsequent offense shall not be subject to imprisonment, but to a fine alone of up to one thousand dollars for each offense.

HISTORY: 136 v S 75 (Eff 11-3-75); 146 v S 2 (Eff 7-1-96); 148 v H 148 (Eff 10-14-99); 148 v H 506. Eff 4-10-2001.


 

v     First Amendment Rights vs. Advertising Regulation

 

SECTION 5.

The authority this act grants to the State Chiropractic Board to adopt rules under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code shall not be construed to allow the Board to prohibit or restrict commercial speech by time, place, or medium of solicitation on behalf of chiropractors.

 


 

v     Multidisciplinary Practices

 

§ 4734.17 Authorized forms of business entities for providing services. 

Text of Statute

(A) An individual whom the state chiropractic board licenses to engage in the practice of chiropractic may render the professional services of a chiropractor within this state through a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code, a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. of the Revised Code, a partnership, or a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code. This division does not preclude a chiropractor from rendering professional services as a chiropractor through another form of business entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit corporation or foundation, or in another manner that is authorized by or in accordance with this chapter, another chapter of the Revised Code, or rules of the state chiropractic board adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(B) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional association described in division (A) of this section may be formed for the purpose of providing a combination of the professional services of the following individuals who are licensed, certificated, or otherwise legally authorized to practice their respective professions:

(1) Optometrists who are authorized to practice optometry, under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code;

(2) Chiropractors who are authorized to practice chiropractic under this chapter;

(3) Psychologists who are authorized to practice psychology under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code;

(4) Registered or licensed practical nurses who are authorized to practice nursing as registered nurses or as licensed practical nurses under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code;

(5) Pharmacists who are authorized to practice pharmacy under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code;

(6) Physical therapists who are authorized to practice physical therapy under sections 4755.40 to 4755.53 of the Revised Code;

(7) Mechanotherapists who are authorized to practice mechanotherapy under section 4731.151 [4731.15.1] of the Revised Code;

(8) Doctors of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery who are authorized for their respective practices under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code.

This division shall apply notwithstanding a provision of any code of ethics established or adopted under section 4734.16 of the Revised Code that prohibits an individual from engaging in the practice of chiropractic in combination with an individual who is licensed, certificated, or otherwise authorized for the practice of optometry, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, mechanotherapy, medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery, but who is not also licensed under this chapter to engage in the practice of chiropractic.

HISTORY: RC § 4734.09.1, 147 v S 31 (Eff 4-10-98); 147 v H 698 (Eff 3-22-99); RC § 4734.17, 148 v H 506. Eff 4-10-2001.

Not analogous to former RC § 4734.17, amended and renumbered RC § 4734.14 in 148 v H 506, eff 4-10-2001.


 

v     Fraud / Fraudulent Conduct

 

Ohio Revised Code Section 4734.31 (C)  [Grounds for discipline]

 

* * *

(12) With respect to a report or record that is made, filed, or signed in connection with the practice of chiropractic, knowingly making or filing a report or record that is false, intentionally or negligently failing to file a report or record required by federal, state, or local law or willfully impeding or obstructing the required filing, or inducing another person to engage in any such acts;

(13) Making a false, fraudulent, or deceitful statement to the board or any agent of the board during any investigation or other official proceeding conducted by the board under this chapter or in any filing that must be submitted to the board;

(14) Attempting to secure a license or to corrupt the outcome of an official board proceeding through bribery or any other improper means;

* * *

(19) Exploiting a patient for personal or financial gain

* * *

(30) Obtaining or attempting to obtain any fee or other advantage by fraud or misrepresentation;

* * *

(31) Making misleading, deceptive, false, or fraudulent representations in the practice of chiropractic;

 

(32) Being guilty of false, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading advertising or other solicitations for patients or knowingly having professional connection with any person that advertises or solicits for patients in such a manner;

 

* * *

 

(37) Except as provided in division (G) of this section:

 

(a) Waiving the payment of all or any part of a deductible or copayment that a patient, pursuant to a health insurance or health care policy, contract, or plan that covers the chiropractor's services, otherwise would be required to pay if the waiver is used as an enticement to a patient or group of patients to receive health care services from that chiropractor;

 

(b) Advertising that the chiropractor will waive the payment of all or any part of a deductible or copayment that a patient, pursuant to a health insurance or health care policy, contract, or plan that covers the chiropractor's services, otherwise would be required to pay.

 


 

v     Other Topics:

 

Ø      Compliance Programs – Key Elements:  1.  Auditing & monitoring the practice for violations and deficiencies; 2. Written compliance standards and procedures for the practice; 3. A designated compliance officer to monitor the practice; 4. Employee training and education; 5. Appropriate response to detected violations, including self-reporting and corrective action; 6. Developing open lines of communication; and 7. Enforcing disciplinary standards through guidelines.

 

Ø      HIPAA Privacy Regulations;

 

Ø      Veterinary Chiropractic?

 

 

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