10.32.02.10

.10 Sanctioning Guidelines for Physicians.

A. Subject to provisions of Regulation .09A and B of this chapter, the disciplinary panel may impose sanctions as outlined in §B of this regulation on physicians for violations of Health Occupations Article, §§14-404(a), 14-504, and 1-302, Annotated Code of Maryland.

B. Range of Sanctions.

Ground

Maximum Sanction

Minimum Sanction

Maximum Fine

Minimum Fine

(1) Fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a license for the applicant or licensee or for another

Revocation

Reprimand with 2 years' probation

$50,000

$10,000

(2) Fraudulently or deceptively uses a license

Revocation

Probation

$50,000

$10,000

(3) Is guilty of immoral or unprofessional conduct in the practice of medicine, consisting of:

(a) Sexual impropriety as defined by the Board's regulations at COMAR 10.32.17.02

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(b) A sexual violation as defined in the Board's regulations at COMAR 10.32.17.02

Revocation

1 year probation

$50,000

$10,000

(c) Ethical violations that are not sexual in nature

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$5,000

(d) Attesting to earning but failing to earn required number of continuing medical education (CME) credits

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(e) Immoral or unprofessional

conduct violations that are not sexual

in nature

Revocation

Reprimand

$25,000

$10,000

(4) Incompetence

(a) Is professionally incompetent

Revocation

Suspension until professional

incompetence is addressed to disciplinary panel’s satisfaction

$50,000

$5,000

(b) Is physically or mentally incompetent

Revocation

Suspension until physical or mental incompetence is addressed to disciplinary panel’s satisfaction.

$50,000

$0

(5) Solicits or advertises in violation of Health Occupations Article, §14-503, Annotated Code of Maryland

Reprimand with probation

Reprimand

$50,000

$5,000

(6) Abandons a patient

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(7) Habitually is intoxicated

Revocation

Suspension until physician is in treatment and has been abstinent for 6 months

$50,000

$0

(8) Is addicted to, or habitually abuses, any narcotic or controlled dangerous substance as defined in Criminal Law Article, §5-101, Annotated Code of Maryland

Revocation

Suspension until physician is in treatment and has been abstinent for 6 months

$50,000

$0

(9) Provides professional services:

   (a) While under the influence of alcohol; or

   (b) While using any narcotic or controlled dangerous substance, as defined in Criminal Law Article, §5-101, Annotated Code of Maryland, or other drug that is in excess of therapeutic amounts or without valid medical indication

Revocation

Suspension until physician is in treatment and has been abstinent for 1 year

$100,000

$10,000

(10) Promotes the sale of drugs, devices, appliances, or goods to a patient so as to exploit the patient for financial gain

Suspension for 5 years

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(11) Willfully makes or files a false report or record in the practice of medicine

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(12) Willfully fails to file or record any medical report as required under law, willfully impedes or obstructs the filing or recording of the report, or induces another to fail to file or record the report

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(13) On proper request, and in accordance with the provisions of Health - General Article, Title 4, Subtitle 3, Annotated Code of Maryland, fails to provide details of a patient's medical record to the patient, another physician, or hospital

Suspension

Reprimand

$10,000

$1,000

(14) Solicits professional patronage through an agent or other person or profits from the acts of a person who is represented as an agent of the physician

Suspension for 1 year

Reprimand

$50,000

$5,000

(15) Pays or agrees to pay any sum to any person for bringing or referring a patient or accepts or agrees to accept any sum from any person for bringing or referring a patient

Revocation

Reprimand

$100,000

$10,000

(16) Agrees with a clinical or bioanalytical laboratory to make payments to the laboratory for a test or test series for a patient, unless the licensed physician discloses on the bill to the patient or third-party payor:

   (a) The name of the laboratory;

   (b) The amount paid to the laboratory for the test or test series; and

   (c) The amount of procurement or processing charge of the licensed physician, if any, for each specimen taken

Suspension for 1 year

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(17) Makes a willful misrepresentation in treatment

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(18) Unauthorized Persons

(a) Practices medicine with an unauthorized person or aids an unauthorized person in the practice of medicine

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(b) When the offense under §B(18)(a) of this regulation:      (i) Consists solely of a physician permitting an unlicensed allied health professional to work in a hospital      (ii) The allied health professional is employed by the hospital, not the physician;      (iii) The physician is not employed by the hospital; and      (iv) The recruitment, hiring, scheduling, and credentialing of the allied health professional is performed by the hospital and not the physician

Suspension for 1 year

Reprimand

$50,000

$0

(19) Grossly overutilizes health care services

Revocation

Reprimand and probation for 2 years

$50,000

$10,000

(20) Offers, undertakes, or agrees to cure or treat disease by a secret method, treatment, or medicine

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(21) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority or convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country or disciplined by any branch of the United States uniformed services or the Veterans’ Administration for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this section

Penalty comparable to what disciplinary panel imposes under equivalent Maryland ground for discipline

Penalty equivalent to that

imposed by original licensing authority if this is lesser than

disciplinary panel sanction would be.

Fine comparable to what disciplinary panel

imposes under equivalent Maryland ground for discipline

Fine equivalent to that imposed by original licensing authority if this is lesser than disciplinary panel sanction would be

(22) Fails to meet appropriate standards as determined by appropriate peer review for the delivery of quality medical and surgical care performed in an outpatient surgical facility, office, hospital, or any other location in this State

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$5,000

(23) Willfully submits false statements to collect fees for which services are not provided

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(24) Was subject to investigation or disciplinary action by a licensing or disciplinary authority or by a court of any state or country for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this section, and the licensee:

   (a) Surrendered the license issued by the state or country to the state or country; or

   (b) Allowed the license issued by the state or country to expire or lapse

Penalty comparable to what disciplinary panel imposes under equivalent Maryland ground for discipline

Penalty equivalent to that imposed by original licensing authority if this is lesser than disciplinary panel sanction would be

Fine comparable to what disciplinary panel

imposes under equivalent Maryland

ground for discipline

Fine equivalent to that imposed by original licensing authority if

this is lesser than disciplinary

panel sanction would be

(25) Knowingly fails to report suspected child abuse in violation of the Family Law Article, §5-704, Annotated Code of Maryland

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$5,000

(26) Fails to educate a patient being treated for breast cancer of alternative methods of treatment as required by of Health-General Article, §20-113, Annotated Code of Maryland

Reprimand and probation of 1 year with mandatory CMEs

Reprimand

$50,000

$5,000

(27) Sells, prescribes, gives away, or administers drugs for illegal or illegitimate medical purposes

Revocation

Reprimand and probation for 3 years with practice oversight

$100,000

$10,000

(28) Fails to comply with the provisions of Health Occupations Article, §12-102, Annotated Code of Maryland, regarding dispensing prescriptions

Suspension for 2 years

Reprimand

$50,000

$2,500

(29) Refuses, withholds from, denies, or discriminates against an individual with regard to the provision of professional services for which the licensee is licensed and qualified to render because the individual is HIV positive

Suspension for 1 year

Reprimand

$50,000

$5,000

(30) Except as to an association that has remained in continuous existence since July 1, 1963:    (a) Associates with a pharmacist as a partner or co-owner of a pharmacy for the purpose of operating a pharmacy;    (b) Employs a pharmacist for the purpose of operating a pharmacy; or    (c) Contracts with a pharmacist for the purpose of operating a pharmacy

Suspension for 3 years

Reprimand

$50,000

$5,000

(31) Except in an emergency life-threatening situation where it is not feasible or practicable, fails to comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines on universal precautions

Revocation

Reprimand

$100,000

$10,000

(32) Fails to display the notice regarding CDC universal precautions, as required under Health Occupations Article, §14-415, Annotated Code of Maryland

Suspension

Reprimand

$10,000

$1,000

(33) Fails to cooperate with a lawful

investigation conducted by the Board or a disciplinary panel

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(34) Is convicted of insurance fraud as defined in Insurance Article, §27-801, Annotated Code of Maryland

Revocation

Suspension for 6 months

$50,000

$10,000

(35) Is in breach of a service obligation resulting from the applicant's or licensee's receipt of State or federal funding for the licensee's medical education

Revocation

Reprimand

$100,000

$10,000

(36) Willfully makes a false representation when seeking or making application for licensure or any other application related to the practice of medicine

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(37) By corrupt means, threats, or force, intimidates or influences, or attempts to intimidate or influence, for the purpose of causing any person to withhold or change testimony in hearings or proceedings before the Board or a disciplinary panel or those

otherwise delegated to the Office of

Administrative Hearings

Revocation

Suspension for 3 years

$50,000

$10,000

(38) By corrupt means, threats, or

force, hinders, prevents, or otherwise

delays any person from making

information available to the Board or a

disciplinary panel in furtherance of any

investigation of the Board or a

disciplinary panel

Revocation

Suspension for 3 years

$50,000

$10,000

(39) Intentionally misrepresents

credentials for the purpose of testifying

or rendering an expert opinion in

hearings or proceedings before the

Board or a disciplinary panel or those

otherwise delegated to the Office of

Administrative Hearings

Revocation

Probation for 3 years

$50,000

$10,000

(40) Fails to keep adequate medical records as determined by appropriate peer review

Suspension for 1 year

Reprimand

$50,000

$2,500

(41) Performs a cosmetic surgical procedure in an office or a facility that is not:

   (a) Accredited by:

      (i) The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities;

      (ii) The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care; or

      (iii) The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations; or

   (b) Certified to participate in the Medicare program, as enacted by Title XVIII of the Social Security Act

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$10,000

(42) Fails to complete a criminal history records check under Health Occupations Article, §14-308.1, Annotated Code of Maryland

Suspension for 1 year

Reprimand

$10,000

$500

(43) Violates any provision of the

Health Occupations Article, any rule or

regulation adopted by the Board, or

any State or federal law pertaining to

the practice of medicine

Revocation

Reprimand

$25,000

$10,000

(44) Fails to meet the qualifications for

licensure under Health Occupations

Article, Title 14, Subtitle 3, Annotated

Code of Maryland

Revocation

Reprimand

$25,000

$10,000

(45) Fails to comply with Health

Occupations Article, §1-223, Annotated

Code of Maryland

Revocation

Reprimand

$50,000

$5,000

(46) Fails to comply with the

requirements of the Prescription Drug

Monitoring Program under Health -

General Article, Title 21, Subtitle 2A,

Annotated Code of Maryland

Suspension for 1 year

Reprimand

$25,000

$10,000

(47) Fails to comply with the provisions of Health Occupations Article, §14-504, Annotated Code of Maryland, regarding acupuncture

Revocation of acupuncture registration

Reprimand

$0

$0

(48) Fails to comply with the provisions of Health Occupations Article, Title 1, Subtitle 3, Annotated Code of Maryland, regarding patient referrals

Revocation

Suspension for 6 months

$100,000

$25,000