HOUSE BILL 664

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

W. Ken Martinez

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; ENACTING THE UNLICENSED HEALTH CARE PRACTICE ACT; PROVIDING PENALTIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act".

     Section 2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act:

          A. "controlled substance" means a drug or substance listed in Schedules I through V of the Controlled Substances Act or rules adopted thereto;

          B. "conventional medical diagnosis" means a medical term that is commonly used and understood in conventional western medicine;

          C. "department" means the regulation and licensing department;

          D. "health care practitioner" means an individual who provides health care services;

          E. "health care service" means any service relating to the physical and mental health and wellness of an individual; and

          F. "prescription drugs" means drugs that require a written prescription from a licensed health care practitioner before they can be dispensed.

     Section 3. LICENSING EXEMPTION.--A health care practitioner who is not licensed, certified or registered in New Mexico as a health care practitioner shall not be in violation of any licensing law relating to health care services pursuant to Chapter 61 NMSA 1978 unless that individual:

          A. engages in any activity prohibited in Section 4 of the Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act; or

          B. fails to fulfill the duties set forth in Section 5 of the Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act.

     Section 4. PROHIBITED ACTS.--An unlicensed health care practitioner shall not:

          A. perform surgery on an individual;

          B. set fractures on an individual;

          C. administer x-ray radiation to an individual;

          D. illegally prescribe or dispense prescription drugs or controlled substances to an individual;

          E. directly manipulate the joints or spine of an individual;

          F. physically invade the body except for the use of non-prescription topical creams, oils, salves, ointments, tinctures or any other preparations that may penetrate the skin without causing harm;

          G. make a recommendation to discontinue current medical treatment prescribed by a licensed health care practitioner;

          H. make a specific conventional medical diagnosis;

          I. have sexual contact with a current patient or former patient within one year of rendering service;

          J. falsely advertise or provide false information in documents described in Subsection B of Section 5 of the Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act;

          K. illegally use prescription drugs or controlled substances;

          L. reveal confidential information of a patient without the patient's written consent;

          M. engage in fee splitting or kickbacks for referrals; or

          N. refer to the practitioner's self as a licensed doctor or physician or other occupational title pursuant to Chapter 61 NMSA 1978.

     Section 5. DUTIES OF AN UNLICENSED HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER.--An unlicensed health care practitioner shall:

          A. provide to a patient prior to rendering services a patient information document, either in writing in plain language that the patient understands or, if the patient cannot read, orally in a language the patient understands, containing the following:

                (1) the health care practitioner's name, title and business address and telephone number;

                (2) a statement that the health care practitioner is not a health care practitioner licensed by the state of New Mexico;

                (3) a statement that the treatment to be provided by the health care practitioner is alternative or complementary to health care services provided by health care practitioners licensed by the state of New Mexico;

                (4) the nature of the health care services to be provided;

                (5) the health care practitioner's degrees, education, training, experience or other qualifications regarding the health care services to be provided;

                (6) the health care practitioner's fees per unit of service and method of billing for such fees and a statement that the patient has a right to reasonable notice of changes in health care services or charges for health care services;

                (7) a notice that the patient has a right to complete and current information concerning the health care practitioner's assessment and recommended health care services that are to be provided, including the expected duration of the health care services to be provided and the patient's right to be allowed access to the patient's records and written information from the patient's records;

                (8) a statement that patient records and transactions with the health care practitioner are confidential unless the release of these records is authorized in writing by the patient or otherwise provided by law;

                (9) a statement that the patient has a right to coordinated transfer when there will be a change in the provider of health care services; and

                (10) the name, address and telephone number of the department and notice that a patient may file complaints with the department; and

          B. obtain a written acknowledgment from a patient, or if the patient cannot write an oral acknowledgment witnessed by a third party, stating that the patient has been provided with a copy of the information document. The patient shall be provided with a copy of the written acknowledgment, which shall be maintained for three years by the health care practitioner providing the health care service.

     Section 6. APPLICABILITY.--The following individuals shall not provide health care services pursuant to the Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act:

          A. former health care practitioners whose license, certification or registration has been revoked or suspended by any health care board and not reinstated;

          B. individuals convicted of a felony for a crime against a person who have not satisfied the terms of the person's sentence as provided by law;

          C. individuals convicted of a felony related to health care who have not satisfied the terms of the person's sentence as provided by law; and

          D. individuals who have been deemed mentally incompetent by a court of law.

     Section 7. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.--If the department determines a health care practitioner practicing pursuant to the Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act may have violated a provision of that act, it may take one or more of the following actions pursuant to the Uniform Licensing Act against the health care practitioner if the health care practitioner is found to have violated a provision of the Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act:

          A. provide written notice to the health care practitioner requesting the practitioner to correct the activity that is a violation of the Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act; this action shall be the first option if the offense is a violation of the disclosure requirements of the Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act;

          B. issue a cease and desist order against the health care practitioner pertaining to the provision of unlicensed health care services; or

          C. impose a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.

     Section 8. DUTIES OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.--The superintendent of regulation and licensing is expressly authorized to promulgate rules as necessary to implement the provisions of the Unlicensed Health Care Practice Act.

     Section 9. SEVERABILITY.--If any part or application of this act is held invalid, the remainder or its application to other situations or persons shall not be affected.

     Section 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2009.

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