SENATE BILL No. 410

 

 

May 30, 2017, Introduced by Senators COLBECK, SCHUITMAKER, EMMONS, PROOS, JONES, GREEN, MARLEAU, BRANDENBURG, BIEDA, HANSEN, NOFS, PAVLOV, SHIRKEY, O'BRIEN and HUNE and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

      A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled

 

"Public health code,"

 

by amending sections 16221 and 16226 (MCL 333.16221 and 333.16226),

 

as amended by 2016 PA 379.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

 1        Sec. 16221. The department shall investigate any allegation

 

 2  that 1 or more of the grounds for disciplinary subcommittee action

 

 3  under this section exist, and may investigate activities related to

 

 4  the practice of a health profession by a licensee, a registrant, or

 

 5  an applicant for licensure or registration. The department may hold

 

 6  hearings, administer oaths, and order the taking of relevant

 

 7  testimony. After its investigation, the department shall provide a

 

 8  copy of the administrative complaint to the appropriate

 


 1  disciplinary subcommittee. The disciplinary subcommittee shall

 

 2  proceed under section 16226 if it finds that 1 or more of the

 

 3  following grounds exist:

 

 4        (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section,

 

 5  a violation of general duty, consisting of negligence or failure to

 

 6  exercise due care, including negligent delegation to or supervision

 

 7  of employees or other individuals, whether or not injury results,

 

 8  or any conduct, practice, or condition that impairs, or may impair,

 

 9  the ability to safely and skillfully engage in the practice of the

 

10  health profession.

 

11        (b) Personal disqualifications, consisting of 1 or more of the

 

12  following:

 

13        (i) Incompetence.

 

14        (ii) Subject to sections 16165 to 16170a, substance use

 

15  disorder as defined in section 100d of the mental health code, 1974

 

16  PA 258, MCL 330.1100d.

 

17        (iii) Mental or physical inability reasonably related to and

 

18  adversely affecting the licensee's or registrant's ability to

 

19  practice in a safe and competent manner.

 

20        (iv) Declaration of mental incompetence by a court of

 

21  competent jurisdiction.

 

22        (v) Conviction of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for

 

23  a maximum term of 2 years; conviction of a misdemeanor involving

 

24  the illegal delivery, possession, or use of a controlled substance;

 

25  or conviction of any felony other than a felony listed or described

 

26  in another subparagraph of this subdivision. A certified copy of

 

27  the court record is conclusive evidence of the conviction.


 1        (vi) Lack of good moral character.

 

 2        (vii) Conviction of a criminal offense under section 520e or

 

 3  520g of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520e and

 

 4  750.520g. A certified copy of the court record is conclusive

 

 5  evidence of the conviction.

 

 6        (viii) Conviction of a violation of section 492a of the

 

 7  Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.492a. A certified copy of

 

 8  the court record is conclusive evidence of the conviction.

 

 9        (ix) Conviction of a misdemeanor or felony involving fraud in

 

10  obtaining or attempting to obtain fees related to the practice of a

 

11  health profession. A certified copy of the court record is

 

12  conclusive evidence of the conviction.

 

13        (x) Final adverse administrative action by a licensure,

 

14  registration, disciplinary, or certification board involving the

 

15  holder of, or an applicant for, a license or registration regulated

 

16  by another state or a territory of the United States, by the United

 

17  States military, by the federal government, or by another country.

 

18  A certified copy of the record of the board is conclusive evidence

 

19  of the final action.

 

20        (xi) Conviction of a misdemeanor that is reasonably related to

 

21  or that adversely affects the licensee's or registrant's ability to

 

22  practice in a safe and competent manner. A certified copy of the

 

23  court record is conclusive evidence of the conviction.

 

24        (xii) Conviction of a violation of section 430 of the Michigan

 

25  penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.430. A certified copy of the court

 

26  record is conclusive evidence of the conviction.

 

27        (xiii) Conviction of a criminal offense under section 83, 84,


 1  316, 317, 321, 520b, 520c, 520d, or 520f of the Michigan penal

 

 2  code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.83, 750.84, 750.316, 750.317, 750.321,

 

 3  750.520b, 750.520c, 750.520d, and 750.520f. A certified copy of the

 

 4  court record is conclusive evidence of the conviction.

 

 5        (xiv) Conviction of a violation of section 136 of the Michigan

 

 6  penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.136. A certified copy of the court

 

 7  record is conclusive evidence of the conviction.

 

 8        (c) Prohibited acts, consisting of 1 or more of the following:

 

 9        (i) Fraud or deceit in obtaining or renewing a license or

 

10  registration.

 

11        (ii) Permitting a license or registration to be used by an

 

12  unauthorized person.

 

13        (iii) Practice outside the scope of a license.

 

14        (iv) Obtaining, possessing, or attempting to obtain or possess

 

15  a controlled substance as defined in section 7104 or a drug as

 

16  defined in section 7105 without lawful authority; or selling,

 

17  prescribing, giving away, or administering drugs for other than

 

18  lawful diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

 

19        (d) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section,

 

20  unethical business practices, consisting of 1 or more of the

 

21  following:

 

22        (i) False or misleading advertising.

 

23        (ii) Dividing fees for referral of patients or accepting

 

24  kickbacks on medical or surgical services, appliances, or

 

25  medications purchased by or in behalf of patients.

 

26        (iii) Fraud or deceit in obtaining or attempting to obtain

 

27  third party reimbursement.


 1        (e) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section,

 

 2  unprofessional conduct, consisting of 1 or more of the following:

 

 3        (i) Misrepresentation to a consumer or patient or in obtaining

 

 4  or attempting to obtain third party reimbursement in the course of

 

 5  professional practice.

 

 6        (ii) Betrayal of a professional confidence.

 

 7        (iii) Promotion for personal gain of an unnecessary drug,

 

 8  device, treatment, procedure, or service.

 

 9        (iv) Either of the following:

 

10        (A) A requirement by a licensee other than a physician or a

 

11  registrant that an individual purchase or secure a drug, device,

 

12  treatment, procedure, or service from another person, place,

 

13  facility, or business in which the licensee or registrant has a

 

14  financial interest.

 

15        (B) A referral by a physician for a designated health service

 

16  that violates 42 USC 1395nn or a regulation promulgated under that

 

17  section. For purposes of this subdivision, 42 USC 1395nn and the

 

18  regulations promulgated under that section as they exist on June 3,

 

19  2002 are incorporated by reference. A disciplinary subcommittee

 

20  shall apply 42 USC 1395nn and the regulations promulgated under

 

21  that section regardless of the source of payment for the designated

 

22  health service referred and rendered. If 42 USC 1395nn or a

 

23  regulation promulgated under that section is revised after June 3,

 

24  2002, the department shall officially take notice of the revision.

 

25  Within 30 days after taking notice of the revision, the department

 

26  shall decide whether or not the revision pertains to referral by

 

27  physicians for designated health services and continues to protect


 1  the public from inappropriate referrals by physicians. If the

 

 2  department decides that the revision does both of those things, the

 

 3  department may promulgate rules to incorporate the revision by

 

 4  reference. If the department does promulgate rules to incorporate

 

 5  the revision by reference, the department shall not make any

 

 6  changes to the revision. As used in this sub-subparagraph,

 

 7  "designated health service" means that term as defined in 42 USC

 

 8  1395nn and the regulations promulgated under that section and

 

 9  "physician" means that term as defined in sections 17001 and 17501.

 

10        (v) For a physician who makes referrals under 42 USC 1395nn or

 

11  a regulation promulgated under that section, refusing to accept a

 

12  reasonable proportion of patients eligible for Medicaid and

 

13  refusing to accept payment from Medicaid or Medicare as payment in

 

14  full for a treatment, procedure, or service for which the physician

 

15  refers the individual and in which the physician has a financial

 

16  interest. A physician who owns all or part of a facility in which

 

17  he or she provides surgical services is not subject to this

 

18  subparagraph if a referred surgical procedure he or she performs in

 

19  the facility is not reimbursed at a minimum of the appropriate

 

20  Medicaid or Medicare outpatient fee schedule, including the

 

21  combined technical and professional components.

 

22        (vi) Any conduct by a health professional with a patient while

 

23  he or she is acting within the health profession for which he or

 

24  she is licensed or registered, including conduct initiated by a

 

25  patient or to which the patient consents, that is sexual or may

 

26  reasonably be interpreted as sexual, including, but not limited to,

 

27  sexual intercourse, kissing in a sexual manner, or touching of a


 1  body part for any purpose other than appropriate examination,

 

 2  treatment, or comfort.

 

 3        (vii) Offering to provide practice-related services, such as

 

 4  drugs, in exchange for sexual favors.

 

 5        (f) Failure to notify under section 16222(3) or (4).

 

 6        (g) Failure to report a change of name or mailing address as

 

 7  required in section 16192.

 

 8        (h) A violation, or aiding or abetting in a violation, of this

 

 9  article or of a rule promulgated under this article.

 

10        (i) Failure to comply with a subpoena issued pursuant to this

 

11  part, failure to respond to a complaint issued under this article,

 

12  article 7, or article 8, failure to appear at a compliance

 

13  conference or an administrative hearing, or failure to report under

 

14  section 16222(1) or 16223.

 

15        (j) Failure to pay an installment of an assessment levied

 

16  under the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.100 to

 

17  500.8302, within 60 days after notice by the appropriate board.

 

18        (k) A violation of section 17013 or 17513.

 

19        (l) Failure to meet 1 or more of the requirements for

 

20  licensure or registration under section 16174.

 

21        (m) A violation of section 17015, 17015a, 17017, 17515, or

 

22  17517.

 

23        (n) A violation of section 17016 or 17516.

 

24        (o) Failure to comply with section 9206(3).

 

25        (p) A violation of section 5654 or 5655.

 

26        (q) A violation of section 16274.

 

27        (r) A violation of section 17020 or 17520.


 1        (s) A violation of the medical records access act, 2004 PA 47,

 

 2  MCL 333.26261 to 333.26271.

 

 3        (t) A violation of section 17764(2).

 

 4        (u) Failure to comply with the terms of a practice agreement

 

 5  described in section 17047(2)(a) or (b), 17547(2)(a) or (b), or

 

 6  18047(2)(a) or (b).

 

 7        Sec. 16226. (1) After finding the existence of 1 or more of

 

 8  the grounds for disciplinary subcommittee action listed in section

 

 9  16221, a disciplinary subcommittee shall impose 1 or more of the

 

10  following sanctions for each violation:

 

 

11

 Violations of Section 16221

            Sanctions

12

 Subdivision (a), (b)(i),

Probation, limitation, denial,

13

 (b)(ii), (b)(iii), (b)(iv),

suspension, revocation,

14

 (b)(v), (b)(vi), (b)(vii),

permanent revocation,

15

 (b)(ix),  (b)(x), (b)(xi),

restitution, or fine.

16

 or (b)(xii)

17

18

 Subdivision (b)(viii)

Revocation, permanent revocation,

19

or denial.

20

21

 Subdivision (b)(xiii)

Permanent revocation

22

for a violation described in

23

subsection (5); otherwise,

24

probation, limitation, denial,

25

suspension, revocation,

26

restitution, or fine.

27


 1

Subdivision (b)(xiv)

Permanent revocation.

 2

 

 

 3

 Subdivision (c)(i)

Denial, revocation, suspension,

 4

probation, limitation, or fine.

 5

 6

 Subdivision (c)(ii)

Denial, suspension, revocation,

 7

restitution, or fine.

 8

 9

 Subdivision (c)(iii)

Probation, denial, suspension,

10

revocation, restitution, or fine.

11

12

 Subdivision (c)(iv)

Fine, probation, denial,

13

 or (d)(iii)

suspension, revocation, permanent

14

revocation, or restitution.

15

16

 Subdivision (d)(i)

Reprimand, fine, probation,

17

 or (d)(ii)

denial, or restitution.

18

19

 Subdivision (e)(i),

Reprimand, fine, probation,

20

 (e)(iii),  (e)(iv), (e)(v),

limitation, suspension,

21

 (h), or (s)

revocation, permanent revocation,

22

denial, or restitution.

23

24

 Subdivision (e)(ii)

Reprimand, probation, suspension,

25

 or (i)

revocation, permanent

26

revocation, restitution,

27

denial, or fine.


 1

 2

 Subdivision (e)(vi)

Probation, suspension, revocation,

 3

 or (e)(vii)

limitation, denial,

 4

restitution, or fine.

 5

 6

 Subdivision (f)

Reprimand, denial, limitation,

 7

probation, or fine.

 8

 9

 Subdivision (g)

Reprimand or fine.

10

11

 Subdivision (j)

Suspension or fine.

12

13

 Subdivision (k), (p),

Reprimand, probation, suspension,

14

 or (r)

revocation, permanent revocation,

15

or fine.

16

17

 Subdivision (l)

Reprimand, denial, or

18

limitation.

19

20

 Subdivision (m) or (o)

Denial, revocation, restitution,

21

probation, suspension,

22

limitation, reprimand, or fine.

23

24

 Subdivision (n)

Revocation or denial.

25

26

 Subdivision (q)

Revocation.

27


 1

 Subdivision (t)

Revocation, permanent revocation,

 2

fine, or restitution.

 3

 

 

 4

 Subdivision (u)

Denial, revocation, probation,

 5

suspension, limitation, reprimand,

 6

or fine.

 7

 

 

 

 

 8        (2) Determination of sanctions for violations under this

 

 9  section shall be made by a disciplinary subcommittee. If, during

 

10  judicial review, the court of appeals determines that a final

 

11  decision or order of a disciplinary subcommittee prejudices

 

12  substantial rights of the petitioner for 1 or more of the grounds

 

13  listed in section 106 of the administrative procedures act of 1969,

 

14  1969 PA 306, MCL 24.306, and holds that the final decision or order

 

15  is unlawful and is to be set aside, the court shall state on the

 

16  record the reasons for the holding and may remand the case to the

 

17  disciplinary subcommittee for further consideration.

 

18        (3) A disciplinary subcommittee may impose a fine in an amount

 

19  that does not exceed $250,000.00 for a violation of section

 

20  16221(a) or (b). A disciplinary subcommittee shall impose a fine of

 

21  at least $25,000.00 if the violation of section 16221(a) or (b)

 

22  results in the death of 1 or more patients.

 

23        (4) A disciplinary subcommittee may require a licensee or

 

24  registrant or an applicant for licensure or registration who has

 

25  violated this article, article 7, or article 8 or a rule

 

26  promulgated under this article, article 7, or article 8 to

 

27  satisfactorily complete an educational program, a training program,


 1  or a treatment program, a mental, physical, or professional

 

 2  competence examination, or a combination of those programs and

 

 3  examinations.

 

 4        (5) A disciplinary subcommittee shall impose the sanction of

 

 5  permanent revocation for a violation of section 16221(b)(xiii) if

 

 6  the violation occurred while the licensee or registrant was acting

 

 7  within the health profession for which he or she was licensed or

 

 8  registered.

 

 9        (6) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) and this

 

10  subsection, a disciplinary subcommittee shall not impose the

 

11  sanction of permanent revocation under this section without a

 

12  finding that the licensee or registrant engaged in a pattern of

 

13  intentional acts of fraud or deceit resulting in personal financial

 

14  gain to the licensee or registrant and harm to the health of

 

15  patients under the licensee's or registrant's care. This subsection

 

16  does not apply if a disciplinary subcommittee finds that a licensee

 

17  or registrant has violated section 16221(b)(xiv).

 

18        Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

19  after the date it is enacted into law.

 

20        Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect

 

21  unless Senate Bill No. 337 of the 99th Legislature is enacted into

 

22  law.