HOUSE BILL No. 5175

 

October 15, 2003, Introduced by Reps. Nofs, Rocca, Ruth Johnson, Ward, Julian, Meyer, Stewart, Hager, Hart, Richardville, DeRossett, Newell, Milosch, Shackleton, LaJoy, Walker, Bisbee, Casperson, Gaffney, Moolenaar, Caul, Amos, Robertson, Kooiman and Tabor and referred to the Committee on Criminal Justice.

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Public health code,"                                                       

                                                                                

    by amending sections 16221, 16226, 17763, and 17764 (MCL                    

                                                                                

    333.16221, 333.16226, 333.17763, and 333.17764), section 16221 as           

                                                                                

    amended by 2002 PA 402, section 16226 as amended by 2002 PA 643,            

                                                                                

    and section 17763 as amended by 1997 PA 153.                                

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 16221.  The department may investigate activities                      

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

4   department may hold hearings, administer oaths, and order                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

6   the appropriate disciplinary subcommittee.  The disciplinary                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

8   or more of the following grounds exist:                                     

                                                                                


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

2   failure to exercise due care, including negligent delegation to             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

6   practice the health profession.                                             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

8   the following:                                                              

                                                                                

9                                                                                (i) Incompetence.                                                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

11  defined in section 6107.                                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

14  and competent manner.                                                       

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

16  competent jurisdiction.                                                     

                                                                                

17      (v) Conviction of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

21  evidence of the conviction.                                                 

                                                                                

22      (vi) Lack of good moral character.                                           

                                                                                

23      (vii) Conviction of a criminal offense under sections  520a                  

                                                                                

24  to 520l  520b to 520g of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328,              

                                                                                

25  MCL  750.520a to 750.520l  750.520b to 750.520g.  A certified               

                                                                                

26  copy of the court record is conclusive evidence of the                      

                                                                                

27  conviction.                                                                 


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

7   conclusive evidence of the conviction.                                      

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

9   registration, disciplinary, or certification board involving the            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

14  conclusive evidence of the final action.                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

18  record is conclusive evidence of the conviction.                            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

20  following:                                                                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

22  registration.                                                               

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

24  unauthorized person.                                                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

3   other than lawful diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.                       

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

5   the following:                                                              

                                                                                

6                                                                                (i) False or misleading advertising.                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

8   kickbacks on medical or surgical services, appliances, or                   

                                                                                

9   medications purchased by or in behalf of patients.                          

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

11  third party reimbursement.                                                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

13  following:                                                                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

15  obtaining or attempting to obtain third party reimbursement in              

                                                                                

16  the course of professional practice.                                        

                                                                                

17      (ii) Betrayal of a professional confidence.                                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

19  device, treatment, procedure, or service.                                   

                                                                                

20      (iv) Either of the following:                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

24  business in which the licensee has a financial interest.                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

26  that violates section 1877 of part D of title XVIII of the social           

                                                                                

27  security act, 42 U.S.C. 1395nn, or a regulation promulgated under           


                                                                                

1   that section.  Section 1877 of part D of title XVIII of the                 

                                                                                

2   social security act, 42 U.S.C. 1395nn, and the regulations                  

                                                                                

3   promulgated under that section, as they exist on  the effective             

                                                                                

4   date of the amendatory act that added this sentence  June 3,                

                                                                                

5   2002, are incorporated by reference for purposes of this                    

                                                                                

6   subparagraph.  A disciplinary subcommittee shall apply                      

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

8   42 U.S.C. 1395nn, and the regulations promulgated under that                

                                                                                

9   section regardless of the source of payment for the designated              

                                                                                

10  health service referred and rendered.  If section 1877 of part D            

                                                                                

11  of title XVIII of the social security act, 42 U.S.C. 1395nn, or a           

                                                                                

12  regulation promulgated under that section is revised after  the             

                                                                                

13  effective date of the amendatory act that added this sentence               

                                                                                

14  June 3, 2002, the department shall officially take notice of the            

                                                                                

15  revision.  Within 30 days after taking notice of the revision,              

                                                                                

16  the department shall decide whether or not the revision pertains            

                                                                                

17  to referral by physicians for designated health services and                

                                                                                

18  continues to protect the public from inappropriate referrals by             

                                                                                

19  physicians.  If the department decides that the revision does               

                                                                                

20  both of those things, the department may promulgate rules to                

                                                                                

21  incorporate the revision by reference.  If the department does              

                                                                                

22  promulgate rules to incorporate the revision by reference, the              

                                                                                

23  department shall not make any changes to the revision.  As used             

                                                                                

24  in this subparagraph, "designated health service" means that term           

                                                                                

25  as defined in section 1877 of part D of title XVIII of the social           

                                                                                

26  security act, 42 U.S.C. 1395nn, and the regulations promulgated             

                                                                                

27  under that section and "physician" means that term as defined in            


                                                                                

1   sections 17001 and 17501.                                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

3   1877 of part D of title XVIII of the social security act, 42                

                                                                                

4   U.S.C. 1395nn, or a regulation promulgated under that section,              

                                                                                

5   refusing to accept a reasonable proportion of patients eligible             

                                                                                

6   for medicaid and refusing to accept payment from medicaid or                

                                                                                

7   medicare as payment in full for a treatment, procedure, or                  

                                                                                

8   service for which the physician refers the individual and in                

                                                                                

9   which the physician has a financial interest.  A physician who              

                                                                                

10  owns all or part of a facility in which he or she provides                  

                                                                                

11  surgical services is not subject to this subparagraph if a                  

                                                                                

12  referred surgical procedure he or she performs in the facility is           

                                                                                

13  not reimbursed at a minimum of the appropriate medicaid or                  

                                                                                

14  medicare outpatient fee schedule, including the combined                    

                                                                                

15  technical and professional components.                                      

                                                                                

16      (f) Beginning  1 year after the effective date of this act                  

                                                                                

17  June 3, 2003, the department of consumer and industry services              

                                                                                

18  shall prepare the first of 3 annual reports on the effect of this           

                                                                                

19  amendatory act on access to care for the uninsured and medicaid             

                                                                                

20  patients.  The department shall report on the number of referrals           

                                                                                

21  by licensees of uninsured and medicaid patients to purchase or              

                                                                                

22  secure a drug, device, treatment, procedure, or service from                

                                                                                

23  another person, place, facility, or business in which the                   

                                                                                

24  licensee has a financial interest.                                          

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

26  within 30 days after the change occurs.                                     

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

4   or article 7, failure to appear at a compliance conference or an            

                                                                                

5   administrative hearing, or failure to report under section 16222            

                                                                                

6   or 16223.                                                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

8   pursuant to the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.100            

                                                                                

9   to 500.8302, within 60 days after notice by the appropriate                 

                                                                                

10  board.                                                                      

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

13  licensure or registration under section 16174.                              

                                                                                

14      (m) A violation of section 17015 or 17515.                                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

18      (q) A violation of section 16274.                                           

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

20      (s) A violation of section 17764(2).                                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

22  the grounds for disciplinary subcommittee action listed in                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

24  of the following sanctions for each violation:                              

                                                                                

25  Violations of Section 16221               Sanctions                         

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

2   (b)(vii)                        restitution, community service,              

                                                                                

3                                   or fine.                                    

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

8   or (b)(xi)                      community service, or fine.                  

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

10                                  probation, limitation, community            

                                                                                

11                                  service, or fine.                           

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

13                                  restitution, community service,             

                                                                                

14                                  or fine.                                    

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

16                                  revocation, restitution,                    

                                                                                

17                                  community service, or fine.                 

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

18  Subdivision (c)(iv) or                                                       

                                                                                

19  (d)(iii)                        Fine, probation, denial,                     

                                                                                

20                                  suspension, revocation, community           

                                                                                

21                                  service, or restitution.                    


                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

3                                   or restitution.                             

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

5                                   limitation, suspension, community           

                                                                                

6                                   service, denial, or restitution.            

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

7   Subdivision (e)(ii)             Reprimand, probation,                        

                                                                                

8   or (i)                          suspension, restitution,                    

                                                                                

9                                   community service, denial, or               

                                                                                

10                                  fine.                                       

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

13                                  limitation, community service,              

                                                                                

14                                  denial, or restitution.                     

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

15  Subdivision (g)                 Reprimand or fine.                          

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

16  Subdivision (h)                 Reprimand, probation, denial,               

                                                                                

17                                  suspension, revocation,                     

                                                                                

18                                  limitation, restitution,                    

                                                                                

19                                  community service, or fine.                 

                                                                                

20  Subdivision (j)                 Suspension or fine.                         

                                                                                

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   Subdivision (k), (p), or                                                    

                                                                                

2   (r)                             Reprimand or fine.                          

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

3   Subdivision (l)                 Reprimand, denial, or                       

                                                                                

4                                   limitation.                                 

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

6                                   probation, suspension,                      

                                                                                

7                                   limitation, reprimand, or fine.             

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

8   Subdivision (n)                 Revocation or denial.                       

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

9   Subdivision (q)                 Revocation.                                 

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

10  Subdivision (s)                 Revocation, fine, and                       

                                                                                

11                                  restitution.                                

                                                                                

12      (2) Determination of sanctions for violations under this                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

15  decision or order of a disciplinary subcommittee prejudices                 

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

17  listed in section 106 of the administrative procedures act of               

                                                                                

18  1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.306, and holds that the final decision            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

21  the case to the disciplinary subcommittee for further                       

                                                                                

22  consideration.                                                              


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

2   but not exceeding, $250,000.00 for a violation of                           

                                                                                

3   section 16221(a) or (b).                                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

5   registrant or an applicant for licensure or registration who has            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

7   this article or article 7 to satisfactorily complete an                     

                                                                                

8   educational program, a training program, or a treatment program,            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

10  combination of those programs and examinations.                             

                                                                                

11      Sec. 17763.  In addition to the grounds set forth in part                   

                                                                                

12  161, the disciplinary subcommittee may fine, reprimand, or place            

                                                                                

13  a pharmacist licensee on probation, or deny, limit, suspend, or             

                                                                                

14  revoke the license of a pharmacist or order restitution or                  

                                                                                

15  community service for a violation or abetting in a violation of             

                                                                                

16  this part or rules promulgated under this part, or for 1 or more            

                                                                                

17  of the following grounds:                                                   

                                                                                

18      (a) Employing the mail to sell, distribute, or deliver a drug               

                                                                                

19  that requires a prescription when the prescription for the drug             

                                                                                

20  is received by mail.                                                        

                                                                                

21      (b) Adulterating, misbranding, or substituting a drug or                    

                                                                                

22  device knowing or intending that the drug or device shall be                

                                                                                

23  used.                                                                       

                                                                                

24      (b)  (c)  Permitting the dispensing of prescriptions by an                  

                                                                                

25  individual who is not a pharmacist, pharmacist intern, or                   

                                                                                

26  dispensing prescriber.                                                      

                                                                                

27      (c)  (d)  Permitting the dispensing of prescriptions by a                   


                                                                                

1   pharmacist intern, except in the presence and under the personal            

                                                                                

2   charge of a pharmacist.                                                     

                                                                                

3       (d)  (e)  Selling at auction drugs in bulk or in open                       

                                                                                

4   packages unless the sale has been approved in accordance with               

                                                                                

5   rules of the board.                                                         

                                                                                

6       (e)  (f)  Promoting a prescription drug to the public in any                

                                                                                

7   manner.                                                                     

                                                                                

8       (f)  (g)  In addition to the prohibition contained in                       

                                                                                

9   section 7405(1)(e), dispensing a prescription for a controlled              

                                                                                

10  substance as defined in section 7104 that is written and signed             

                                                                                

11  or transmitted by a physician prescriber in a state other than              

                                                                                

12  Michigan, unless the prescription is issued by a physician                  

                                                                                

13  prescriber residing adjacent to the land border between this                

                                                                                

14  state and an adjoining state who is authorized under the laws of            

                                                                                

15  that state to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine and                 

                                                                                

16  surgery and to prescribe controlled substances and whose practice           

                                                                                

17  may extend into this state, but who does not maintain an office             

                                                                                

18  or designate a place to meet patients or receive calls in this              

                                                                                

19  state.                                                                      

                                                                                

20      Sec. 17764.  (1) A person  is guilty of a misdemeanor who:                  

                                                                                

21      (a) Adulterates, misbrands, or substitutes a drug or device                 

                                                                                

22  knowing or intending that it shall be used.                                 

                                                                                

23      (b) Sells, offers for sale, possesses for sale, causes to be                

                                                                                

24  sold, or manufactures for sale an adulterated or misbranded                 

                                                                                

25  drug.                                                                       

                                                                                

26      (c) Sells, offers  shall not sell, offer for sale,                          

                                                                                

27  possesses  possess for sale, or  manufactures  manufacture for             


                                                                                

1   sale a drug or device bearing or accompanied by a label that is             

                                                                                

2   misleading as to the contents, uses, or purposes of the drug or             

                                                                                

3   device.  A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a               

                                                                                

4   misdemeanor. In determining whether a label is misleading,                  

                                                                                

5   consideration shall be given to the representations made or                 

                                                                                

6   suggested by the statement, word, design, device, sound, or any             

                                                                                

7   combination thereof, and the extent to which the label fails to             

                                                                                

8   reveal facts material in view of the representations made or                

                                                                                

9   material as to consequences  which  that may result from use of             

                                                                                

10  the drug or device to which the label relates under conditions of           

                                                                                

11  use prescribed in the label or under customary or usual                     

                                                                                

12  conditions of use.                                                          

                                                                                

13      (2) A person shall not knowingly or recklessly do either of                 

                                                                                

14  the following with the intent to defraud:                                   

                                                                                

15      (a) Adulterate, misbrand, or substitute a drug or device                    

                                                                                

16  knowing or intending that the drug or device shall be used.                 

                                                                                

17      (b) Sell, offer for sale, possess for sale, cause to be sold,               

                                                                                

18  or manufacture for sale an adulterated or misbranded drug.                  

                                                                                

19      (3) A person who violates subsection (2) is guilty of a                     

                                                                                

20  felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a            

                                                                                

21  fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.                                   

                                                                                

22      (4) A person who violates subsection (2) resulting in                       

                                                                                

23  personal injury is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment            

                                                                                

24  for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00,           

                                                                                

25  or both.                                                                    

                                                                                

26      (5) A person who violates subsection (2) resulting in serious               

                                                                                

27  impairment of a body function is guilty of a felony punishable by           


                                                                                

1   imprisonment for not more than 25 years or a fine of not more               

                                                                                

2   than $25,000.00, or both.  As used in this subsection, "serious             

                                                                                

3   impairment of a body function" means that term as defined in                

                                                                                

4   section 625(5) of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL               

                                                                                

5   257.625.                                                                    

                                                                                

6       (6) A person who violates subsection (2) resulting in death                 

                                                                                

7   is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for life or any            

                                                                                

8   term of years or a fine of not more than $40,000.00, or both.