HOUSE BILL No. 4724

 

May 8, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Rick Jones, Green, Stahl, Hildenbrand, Meekhof, Opsommer, Meltzer and Huizenga and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

      A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled

 

"Public health code,"

 

by amending sections 16221, 16226, 16245, 17001, and 17501 (MCL

 

333.16221, 333.16226, 333.16245, 333.17001, and 333.17501),

 

sections 16221 and 16226 as amended by 2004 PA 214, section 16245

 

as amended by 2006 PA 26, and sections 17001 and 17501 as amended

 

by 2006 PA 161, and by adding section 16182a.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

 1        Sec. 16182a. (1) An individual shall not provide expert

 

 2  witness testimony on the appropriate standard of practice or care

 

 3  in an action alleging medical malpractice unless he or she is

 

 4  licensed or otherwise authorized to practice that health

 

 5  profession in this state or he or she holds a limited license

 


 1  issued in accordance with this section for the purpose of

 

 2  providing expert witness testimony.

 

 3        (2) Upon application and payment of the requisite fee for a

 

 4  limited license, a board may grant a limited license to an

 

 5  individual who is licensed in another state or jurisdiction for

 

 6  the purpose of providing expert witness testimony in this state

 

 7  if the board determines that the limitation is consistent with

 

 8  the ability of the individual to provide knowledgeable, skilled,

 

 9  experienced, and proficient expert witness testimony on the

 

10  appropriate standard of practice or care in an action alleging

 

11  medical malpractice. An individual seeking a limited license

 

12  under this section shall satisfy the requirements of section

 

13  16174 and provide the board with verification of the status and

 

14  good standing of his or her license from the state or

 

15  jurisdiction in which he or she is currently licensed or has been

 

16  licensed to engage in the practice of the health profession.

 

17        (3) The holder of a limited license issued under this

 

18  section is not authorized to engage in the practice of the health

 

19  profession in this state. The holder of a limited license issued

 

20  under this section is only authorized to provide expert witness

 

21  testimony.

 

22        (4) A limited license issued under this section is valid for

 

23  not more than 1 year and is renewable.

 

24        Sec. 16221. The department may investigate activities

 

25  related to the practice of a health profession by a licensee, a

 

26  registrant, or an applicant for licensure or registration. The

 

27  department may hold hearings, administer oaths, and order

 


 1  relevant testimony to be taken and shall report its findings to

 

 2  the appropriate disciplinary subcommittee. The disciplinary

 

 3  subcommittee shall proceed under section 16226 if it finds that 1

 

 4  or more of the following grounds exist:

 

 5        (a) A violation of general duty, consisting of negligence or

 

 6  failure to exercise due care, including negligent delegation to

 

 7  or supervision of employees or other individuals, whether or not

 

 8  injury results, or any conduct, practice, or condition that

 

 9  impairs, or may impair, the ability to safely and skillfully

 

10  practice the health profession.

 

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

 

12  the following:

 

13        (i) Incompetence.

 

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

 

15  defined in section 6107.

 

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

 

17  adversely affecting the licensee's ability to practice in a safe

 

18  and competent manner.

 

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

 

20  competent jurisdiction.

 

21        (v) Conviction of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment

 

22  for a maximum term of 2 years; a misdemeanor involving the

 

23  illegal delivery, possession, or use of a controlled substance;

 

24  or a felony. A certified copy of the court record is conclusive

 

25  evidence of the conviction.

 

26        (vi) Lack of good moral character.

 

27        (vii) Conviction of a criminal offense under sections 520b to

 


 1  520g of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520b to

 

 2  750.520g. A certified copy of the court record is conclusive

 

 3  evidence of the conviction.

 

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

 

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

 

 6  of the court record is conclusive evidence of the conviction.

 

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

 

 8  obtaining or attempting to obtain fees related to the practice of

 

 9  a health profession. A certified copy of the court record is

 

10  conclusive evidence of the conviction.

 

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

 

12  registration, disciplinary, or certification board involving the

 

13  holder of, or an applicant for, a license or registration

 

14  regulated by another state or a territory of the United States,

 

15  by the United States military, by the federal government, or by

 

16  another country. A certified copy of the record of the board is

 

17  conclusive evidence of the final action.

 

18        (xi) Conviction of a misdemeanor that is reasonably related

 

19  to or that adversely affects the licensee's ability to practice

 

20  in a safe and competent manner. A certified copy of the court

 

21  record is conclusive evidence of the conviction.

 

22        (xii) Conviction of a violation of section 430 of the

 

23  Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.430. A certified copy

 

24  of the court record is conclusive evidence of the conviction.

 

25        (c) Prohibited acts, consisting of 1 or more of the

 

26  following:

 

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

 


 1  registration.

 

 2        (ii) Permitting the license or registration to be used by an

 

 3  unauthorized person.

 

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

 

 5        (iv) Obtaining, possessing, or attempting to obtain or

 

 6  possess a controlled substance as defined in section 7104 or a

 

 7  drug as defined in section 7105 without lawful authority; or

 

 8  selling, prescribing, giving away, or administering drugs for

 

 9  other than lawful diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

 

10        (d) Unethical business practices, consisting of 1 or more of

 

11  the following:

 

12        (i) False or misleading advertising.

 

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

 

14  kickbacks on medical or surgical services, appliances, or

 

15  medications purchased by or in behalf of patients.

 

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

 

17  third party reimbursement.

 

18        (e) Unprofessional conduct, consisting of 1 or more of the

 

19  following:

 

20        (i) Misrepresentation to a consumer or patient or in

 

21  obtaining or attempting to obtain third party reimbursement in

 

22  the course of professional practice.

 

23        (ii) Betrayal of a professional confidence.

 

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

 

25  device, treatment, procedure, or service.

 

26        (iv) Either of the following:

 

27        (A) A requirement by a licensee other than a physician that

 


 1  an individual purchase or secure a drug, device, treatment,

 

 2  procedure, or service from another person, place, facility, or

 

 3  business in which the licensee has a financial interest.

 

 4        (B) A referral by a physician for a designated health

 

 5  service that violates section 1877 of part D of title XVIII of

 

 6  the social security act, 42 USC 1395nn, or a regulation

 

 7  promulgated under that section. Section 1877 of part D of title

 

 8  XVIII of the social security act, 42 USC 1395nn, and the

 

 9  regulations promulgated under that section, as they exist on June

 

10  3, 2002, are incorporated by reference for purposes of this

 

11  subparagraph. A disciplinary subcommittee shall apply section

 

12  1877 of part D of title XVIII of the social security act, 42 USC

 

13  1395nn, and the regulations promulgated under that section

 

14  regardless of the source of payment for the designated health

 

15  service referred and rendered. If section 1877 of part D of title

 

16  XVIII of the social security act, 42 USC 1395nn, or a regulation

 

17  promulgated under that section is revised after June 3, 2002, the

 

18  department shall officially take notice of the revision. Within

 

19  30 days after taking notice of the revision, the department shall

 

20  decide whether or not the revision pertains to referral by

 

21  physicians for designated health services and continues to

 

22  protect the public from inappropriate referrals by physicians. If

 

23  the department decides that the revision does both of those

 

24  things, the department may promulgate rules to incorporate the

 

25  revision by reference. If the department does promulgate rules to

 

26  incorporate the revision by reference, the department shall not

 

27  make any changes to the revision. As used in this subparagraph,

 


 1  "designated health service" means that term as defined in section

 

 2  1877 of part D of title XVIII of the social security act, 42 USC

 

 3  1395nn, and the regulations promulgated under that section and

 

 4  "physician" means that term as defined in sections 17001 and

 

 5  17501.

 

 6        (v) For a physician who makes referrals pursuant to section

 

 7  1877 of part D of title XVIII of the social security act, 42 USC

 

 8  1395nn, or a regulation promulgated under that section, refusing

 

 9  to accept a reasonable proportion of patients eligible for

 

10  medicaid and refusing to accept payment from medicaid or medicare

 

11  as payment in full for a treatment, procedure, or service for

 

12  which the physician refers the individual and in which the

 

13  physician has a financial interest. A physician who owns all or

 

14  part of a facility in which he or she provides surgical services

 

15  is not subject to this subparagraph if a referred surgical

 

16  procedure he or she performs in the facility is not reimbursed at

 

17  a minimum of the appropriate medicaid or medicare outpatient fee

 

18  schedule, including the combined technical and professional

 

19  components.

 

20        (f) Beginning June 3, 2003, the department of consumer and

 

21  industry services shall prepare the first of 3 annual reports on

 

22  the effect of this amendatory act on access to care for the

 

23  uninsured and medicaid patients. The department shall report on

 

24  the number of referrals by licensees of uninsured and medicaid

 

25  patients to purchase or secure a drug, device, treatment,

 

26  procedure, or service from another person, place, facility, or

 

27  business in which the licensee has a financial interest.

 


 1        (vi) Providing false or misleading testimony as an expert

 

 2  witness in an action alleging medical malpractice.

 

 3        (f) (g) Failure to report a change of name or mailing

 

 4  address within 30 days after the change occurs.

 

 5        (g) (h) A violation, or aiding or abetting in a violation,

 

 6  of this article or of a rule promulgated under this article.

 

 7        (h) (i) Failure to comply with a subpoena issued pursuant to

 

 8  this part, failure to respond to a complaint issued under this

 

 9  article or article 7, failure to appear at a compliance

 

10  conference or an administrative hearing, or failure to report

 

11  under section 16222 or 16223.

 

12        (i) (j) Failure to pay an installment of an assessment

 

13  levied pursuant to the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL

 

14  500.100 to 500.8302, within 60 days after notice by the

 

15  appropriate board.

 

16        (j) (k) A violation of section 17013 or 17513.

 

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

 

18  licensure or registration under section 16174.

 

19        (l) (m) A violation of section 17015 or 17515.

 

20        (m) (n) A violation of section 17016 or 17516.

 

21        (n) (o) Failure to comply with section 9206(3).

 

22        (o) (p) A violation of section 5654 or 5655.

 

23        (p) (q) A violation of section 16274.

 

24        (q) (r) A violation of section 17020 or 17520.

 

25        (r) (s) A violation of the medical records access act, 2004

 

26  PA 47, MCL 333.26261 to 333.26271.

 

27        (s) (t) A violation of section 17764(2).

 


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

 

 2  the grounds for disciplinary subcommittee action listed in

 

 3  section 16221, a disciplinary subcommittee shall impose 1 or more

 

 4  of the following sanctions for each violation:

 

 

  Violations of Section 16221                Sanctions

Subdivision (a), (b)(ii),           Probation, limitation, denial,

(b)(iv), (b)(vi), or                 suspension, revocation,

(b)(vii)                            restitution, community service,

                                   or fine.

10 Subdivision (b)(viii)                Revocation or denial.

11 Subdivision (b)(i),                 Limitation, suspension,

12 (b)(iii), (b)(v),                    revocation, denial,

13 (b)(ix), (b)(x),                    probation, restitution,

14 (b)(xi), or (b)(xii)                 community service, or fine.

15 Subdivision (c)(i)                  Denial, revocation, suspension,

16                                    probation, limitation, community

17                                    service, or fine.

18 Subdivision (c)(ii)                 Denial, suspension, revocation,

19                                    restitution, community service,

20                                    or fine.

21 Subdivision (c)(iii)                 Probation, denial, suspension,

22                                    revocation, restitution,

23                                    community service, or fine.

24 Subdivision (c)(iv)                 Fine, probation, denial,

25 or (d)(iii)                          suspension, revocation, community

26                                    service, or restitution.

27 Subdivision (d)(i)                  Reprimand, fine, probation,

28 or (d)(ii)                          community service, denial,

29                                    or restitution.

30 Subdivision (e)(i)                  Reprimand, fine, probation,


                                   limitation, suspension, community

                                   service, denial, or restitution.

Subdivision (e)(ii)                 Reprimand, probation,

or (i)(h)                          suspension, restitution,

                                   community service, denial, or

                                   fine.

Subdivision (e)(iii),                Reprimand, fine, probation,

(e)(iv), or (e)(v), or              suspension, revocation,

(e)(vi)                             limitation, community service,

10                                    denial, or restitution.

11 Subdivision (g)(f)                 Reprimand or fine.

12 Subdivision (h) or (s)(g)          Reprimand, probation, denial,

13 or (r)                             suspension, revocation,

14                                    limitation, restitution,

15                                    community service, or fine.

16 Subdivision (j)(i)                 Suspension or fine.

17 Subdivision (k), (p),              Reprimand or fine.

18 or (r)(j), (o), or (q)            

19 Subdivision (l)(k)                  Reprimand, denial, or

20                                    limitation.

21 Subdivision (m) or (o)             Denial, revocation, restitution,

22 (l) or (n)                          probation, suspension,

23                                    limitation, reprimand, or fine.

24 Subdivision (n)(m)                 Revocation or denial.

25 Subdivision (q)(p)                 Revocation.

26 Subdivision (t)(s)                 Revocation, fine, and

27                                    restitution.

 

 

28        (2) Determination of sanctions for violations under this

 

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

 

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


 

 1  decision or order of a disciplinary subcommittee prejudices

 

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

 

 3  listed in section 106 of the administrative procedures act of

 

 4  1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.306, and holds that the final decision

 

 5  or order is unlawful and is to be set aside, the court shall

 

 6  state on the record the reasons for the holding and may remand

 

 7  the case to the disciplinary subcommittee for further

 

 8  consideration.

 

 9        (3) A disciplinary subcommittee may impose a fine of up to,

 

10  but not exceeding, $250,000.00 for a violation of section

 

11  16221(a) or (b).

 

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

 

13  registrant or an applicant for licensure or registration who has

 

14  violated this article or article 7 or a rule promulgated under

 

15  this article or article 7 to satisfactorily complete an

 

16  educational program, a training program, or a treatment program,

 

17  a mental, physical, or professional competence examination, or a

 

18  combination of those programs and examinations.

 

19        Sec. 16245. (1) An individual whose license is limited,

 

20  suspended, or revoked under this part may apply to his or her

 

21  board or task force for a reinstatement of a revoked or suspended

 

22  license or reclassification of a limited license pursuant to

 

23  section 16247 or 16249.

 

24        (2) An individual whose registration is suspended or revoked

 

25  under this part may apply to his or her board for a reinstatement

 

26  of a suspended or revoked registration pursuant to section 16248.

 

27        (3) A board or task force shall reinstate a license or


 

 1  registration suspended for grounds stated in section 16221(j)

 

 2  16221(i) upon payment of the installment.

 

 3        (4) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, in case

 

 4  of a revoked license or registration, an applicant shall not

 

 5  apply for reinstatement before the expiration of 3 years after

 

 6  the effective date of the revocation. In the case of a license or

 

 7  registration that was revoked for a violation of section

 

 8  16221(b)(vii), a violation of section 16221(c)(iv) consisting of a

 

 9  felony conviction, any other felony conviction involving a

 

10  controlled substance, or a violation of section 16221(q)

 

11  16221(p), an applicant shall not apply for reinstatement before

 

12  the expiration of 5 years after the effective date of the

 

13  revocation. The department shall return an application for

 

14  reinstatement received before the expiration of the applicable

 

15  time period under this subsection.

 

16        (5) The department shall provide an opportunity for a

 

17  hearing before final rejection of an application for

 

18  reinstatement.

 

19        (6) Based upon the recommendation of the disciplinary

 

20  subcommittee for each health profession, the department shall

 

21  adopt guidelines to establish specific criteria to be met by an

 

22  applicant for reinstatement under this article or article 7. The

 

23  criteria may include corrective measures or remedial education as

 

24  a condition of reinstatement. If a board or task force, in

 

25  reinstating a license or registration, deviates from the

 

26  guidelines adopted under this subsection, the board or task force

 

27  shall state the reason for the deviation on the record.


 

 1        (7) An individual who seeks reinstatement or

 

 2  reclassification of a license or registration pursuant to this

 

 3  section shall pay the application processing fee as a

 

 4  reinstatement or reclassification fee. If approved for

 

 5  reinstatement or reclassification, the individual shall pay the

 

 6  per year license or registration fee for the applicable license

 

 7  or registration period.

 

 8        (8) An individual who seeks reinstatement of a revoked or

 

 9  suspended license or reclassification of a limited license

 

10  pursuant to this section shall have a criminal history check

 

11  conducted in accordance with section 16174 and submit a copy of

 

12  the results of the background check to the board with his or her

 

13  application for reinstatement or reclassification.

 

14        Sec. 17001. (1) As used in this part:

 

15        (a) "Academic institution" means either of the following:

 

16        (i) A medical school approved by the board.

 

17        (ii) A hospital licensed under article 17 that meets all of

 

18  the following requirements:

 

19        (A) Was the sole sponsor or a co-sponsor, if each other co-

 

20  sponsor is either a medical school approved by the board or a

 

21  hospital owned by the federal government and directly operated by

 

22  the United States department of veterans' affairs, of not less

 

23  than 4 postgraduate education residency programs approved by the

 

24  board under section 17031(1) for not less than the 3 years

 

25  immediately preceding the date of an application for a limited

 

26  license under section 16182(2)(c) or an application for a full

 

27  license under section 17031(2), provided that at least 1 of the


 

 1  residency programs is in the specialty area of medical practice,

 

 2  or in a specialty area that includes the subspecialty of medical

 

 3  practice, in which the applicant for a limited license proposes

 

 4  to practice or in which the applicant for a full license has

 

 5  practiced for the hospital.

 

 6        (B) Has spent not less than $2,000,000.00 for medical

 

 7  education during each of the 3 years immediately preceding the

 

 8  date of an application for a limited license under section

 

 9  16182(2)(c) or an application for a full license under section

 

10  17031(2). As used in this subparagraph, "medical education" means

 

11  the education of physicians and candidates for degrees or

 

12  licenses to become physicians, including, but not limited to,

 

13  physician staff, residents, interns, and medical students.

 

14        (b) "Electrodiagnostic studies" means the testing of

 

15  neuromuscular functions utilizing nerve conduction tests and

 

16  needle electromyography. It does not include the use of surface

 

17  electromyography.

 

18        (c) "Medical care services" means those services within the

 

19  scope of practice of physicians licensed by the board, except

 

20  those services that the board determines shall not be delegated

 

21  by a physician without endangering the health and safety of

 

22  patients as provided for in section 17048(3).

 

23        (d) "Physician" means an individual licensed under this

 

24  article to engage in the practice of medicine.

 

25        (e) "Podiatrist" means an individual licensed under this

 

26  article to engage in the practice of podiatric medicine and

 

27  surgery.


 

 1        (f) "Practice of medicine" means the diagnosis, treatment,

 

 2  prevention, cure, or relieving of a human disease, ailment,

 

 3  defect, complaint, or other physical or mental condition, by

 

 4  attendance, advice, device, diagnostic test, or other means, or

 

 5  offering, undertaking, attempting to do, or holding oneself out

 

 6  as able to do, any of these acts. The practice of medicine

 

 7  includes providing expert witness testimony on the appropriate

 

 8  standard of practice or care in an action alleging medical

 

 9  malpractice.

 

10        (g) "Practice as a physician's assistant" means the practice

 

11  of medicine, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric

 

12  medicine and surgery performed under the supervision of a

 

13  physician or podiatrist licensed under this article.

 

14        (h) "Supervision" means that term as defined in section

 

15  16109, except that it also includes the existence of a

 

16  predetermined plan for emergency situations, including, but not

 

17  limited to, the designation of a physician to supervise a

 

18  physician's assistant in the absence of the primary supervising

 

19  physician.

 

20        (i) "Task force" means the joint task force created in

 

21  section 17025.

 

22        (2) In addition to the definitions in this part, article 1

 

23  contains definitions and principles of construction applicable to

 

24  all articles in this code and part 161 contains definitions

 

25  applicable to this part.

 

26        Sec. 17501. (1) As used in this part:

 

27        (a) "Electrodiagnostic studies" means the testing of


 

 1  neuromuscular functions utilizing nerve conduction tests and

 

 2  needle electromyography. It does not include the use of surface

 

 3  electromyography.

 

 4        (b) "Medical care services" means those services within the

 

 5  scope of practice of physicians licensed and approved by the

 

 6  board, except those services that the board determines shall not

 

 7  be delegated by a physician without endangering the health and

 

 8  safety of patients as provided for in section 17548(3).

 

 9        (c) "Physician" means an individual licensed under this

 

10  article to engage in the practice of osteopathic medicine and

 

11  surgery.

 

12        (d) "Practice of osteopathic medicine and surgery" means a

 

13  separate, complete, and independent school of medicine and

 

14  surgery utilizing full methods of diagnosis and treatment in

 

15  physical and mental health and disease, including the

 

16  prescription and administration of drugs and biologicals,

 

17  operative surgery, obstetrics, radiological and other

 

18  electromagnetic emissions, and placing special emphasis on the

 

19  interrelationship of the musculoskeletal system to other body

 

20  systems. The practice of osteopathic medicine and surgery

 

21  includes providing expert witness testimony on the appropriate

 

22  standard of practice or care in an action alleging medical

 

23  malpractice.

 

24        (e) "Practice as a physician's assistant" means the practice

 

25  of medicine, osteopathic medicine and surgery, and podiatric

 

26  medicine and surgery performed under the supervision of a

 

27  physician or podiatrist licensed under this article.


 

 1        (f) "Supervision" has the meaning ascribed to it in section

 

 2  16109 except that it includes the existence of a predetermined

 

 3  plan for emergency situations, including, but not limited to, the

 

 4  designation of a physician to supervise a physician's assistant

 

 5  in the absence of the primary supervising physician.

 

 6        (g) "Task force" means the joint task force created in

 

 7  section 17025.

 

 8        (2) In addition to the definitions in this part, article 1

 

 9  contains general definitions and principles of construction

 

10  applicable to all articles in the code and part 161 contains

 

11  definitions applicable to this part.