Bill Summaries: H849 (2019-2020 Session)

Tracking:
  • Summary date: Apr 17 2019 - View summary

    Retitles Article 37 of GS Chapter 90, Health Care Practitioner Transparency Act (was, Health Care Practitioner Identification). Deletes the existing provisions and now provides the following. Sets forth four defined terms. Requires an advertisement for health care services that names a health care practitioner to identify the type of license held by the practitioner. Defines advertisement to mean any communication or statement that is printed, electronic, or oral that names the health care practitioner in relation to their practice, profession, or institution where the health care practitioner is employed, volunteers, or otherwise provides health care services, including business cards, letterhead, patient brochures, email, internet, audio and video, or any other communication or statement used in the course of business. Prohibits advertisements from containing any deceptive or misleading information, as defined.  

    Requires health care practitioners to wear a badge or other identification displaying a recent photograph of the practitioner; the practitioner's name; the license, certification, or registration held by the practitioner, and the expiration date of the license whenever providing care to a patient. Specifies the required size and manner of wearing the badge or identification. Requires the health care practitioner to display a written document in the office that identifies the license, certification, or registration held by the practitioner, and the name and type of license of the health care practitioner. Prohibits a health care practitioner from making deceptive or misleading representations about his or her license, certification, or registration. Requires a practitioner who practices in more than one office to comply with the Article's requirements in each practice setting. Requires collaborative offices to post a schedule of regular hours when the medical doctor or doctor of osteopathic medicine will be present in the office. Excludes from the scope of the Article health care practitioners that work in non-patient settings and have no direct patient health care interactions. 

    Enacts GS 90-463 to establish violations of the Article including: (1) knowingly aiding, assisting, procuring, employing, or advising an unlicensed individual in practicing or engaging in acts outside the scope of the practitioner's degree of licensure; (2) knowingly delegating or contracting services to an unqualified practitioner and failing to comply with the Article's provisions. Subjects practitioners to disciplinary action for violations. Provides injunctive relief for any person who is injured or suffers damages as a result of the violation. Deems each day of noncompliance a separate violation. 

    Effective October 1, 2019.