10.32.03.18

.18 Sanctioning Guidelines for Physician Assistants.

A. Subject to provisions of Regulation .17A and B of this chapter, the Board may impose sanctions as outlined in §B of this regulation on physician assistants for violations of Health Occupations Article, §15-314(a), 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 probation for 2 years $25,000 $5,000
(2) Fraudulently or deceptively uses a license Revocation Probation $25,000 $5,000
(3) Is guilty of:
   (a) Immoral conduct in the practice of medicine; or
   (b) Unprofessional conduct in the practice of medicine 		Revocation Reprimand $25,000 $5,000
(4) Incompetence.
   (a) Is physically or mentally incompetent 		Revocation Suspension until physical or mental incompetence is addressed to Board’s satisfaction $25,000 0
   (b) Is professionally incompetent Revocation Suspension until professional incompetence is addressed to Board’s satisfaction $25,000 $2,500
(5) Solicits or advertises in violation of Health Occupations Article, §14–503, Annotated Code of Maryland Reprimand with probation Reprimand $25,000 $2,500
(6) Abandons a patient Revocation Reprimand $25,000 $5,000
(7) Habitually is intoxicated Revocation Suspension until the physician assistant is in treatment and abstinent for 6 months $25,000 $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 the physician assistant is in treatment and abstinent for 6 months $25,000 $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 the physician assistant is in treatment and abstinent for 6 months $50,000 $5,000
(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 $25,000 $5,000
(11) Willfully makes or files a false report or record in the practice of medicine Revocation Reprimand $25,000 $5,000
(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 $25,000 $5,000
(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 $5,000 $500
(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 $25,000 $2,500
(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 $50,000 $2,500
(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 assistant 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 $25,000 $5,000
(17) Makes a willful misrepresentation in treatment Revocation Reprimand $25,000 $5,000
(18) Practices medicine with an unauthorized person or aids an unauthorized person in the practice of medicine Revocation Reprimand $25,000 $5,000
(19) Grossly overutilizes health care services Revocation Reprimand and probation for 2 years $25,000 $5,000
(20) Offers, undertakes, or agrees to cure or treat disease by a secret method, treatment, or medicine Revocation Reprimand $25,000 $5,000
(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 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this section Penalty comparable to what the Board imposes under equivalent Maryland ground for discipline Penalty comparable to that imposed by original licensing authority if this is less than the Board sanction would be Fine comparable to what MBP imposes under equivalent physician ground for discipline Fine equivalent to that imposed by original licensing authority if this is less than the Board sanction would be
(22) Fails to meet appropriate standards 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 $25,000 $2,500
(23) Willfully submits false statements to collect fees for which services are not provided Revocation Reprimand $25,000 $5,000
(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 the Board imposes under equivalent Maryland ground for discipline Penalty comparable to that imposed by original licensing authority if this is less than the Board sanction would be. Fine comparable to what the Board imposes under equivalent Maryland ground for discipline Fine equivalent to that imposed by original licensing authority if this is less than the Board sanction would be
(25) Knowingly fails to report suspected child abuse in violation of Family Law Article, §5–704, Annotated Code of Maryland Revocation Reprimand $50,000 $2,500
(26) Fails to educate a patient being treated for breast cancer of alternative methods of treatment as required by Health-General Article, §20–113, Annotated Code of Maryland Reprimand and probation for 1 year with mandatory CME’s Reprimand $25,000 $2,500
(27) Sells, prescribes, gives away, or administers drugs for illegal or illegitimate medical purposes Revocation Reprimand and probation for 3 years with practice oversight $50,000 $5,000
(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 $25,000 $1,250
(29) Refuses, withholds from, denies, or discriminates against an individual with regard to the provision of professional services for which the physician assistant is licensed and qualified to render because the individual is HIV positive Suspension for 1 year Reprimand $25,000 $2,500
(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 $25,000 $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 $50,000 $5,000
(32) Fails to display the notice required under Health Occupations Article, §14–415, Annotated Code of Maryland Suspension Reprimand $5,000 $500
(33) Fails to cooperate with a lawful investigation conducted by the Board Revocation Reprimand $25,000 $5,000
(34) Is convicted of insurance fraud as defined in Insurance Article, §27–801, Annotated Code of Maryland Revocation Suspension for 6 months $25,000 $5,000
(35) Is in breach of a service obligation resulting from the applicant’s or licensee’s receipt of State or federal funding for the physician assistant’s medical education Revocation Reprimand $50,000 $5,000
(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 $25,000 $5,000
(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 those otherwise delegated to the Office of Administrative Hearings Revocation Suspension for 3 years $25,000 $5,000
(38) By corrupt means, threats, or force, hinders, prevents, or otherwise delays any person from making information available to the Board in furtherance of any investigation of the Board Revocation Suspension for 3 years $25,000 $5,000
(39) Intentionally misrepresents credentials for the purpose of testifying or rendering an expert opinion in hearings or proceedings before the Board or those otherwise delegated to the Office of Administrative Hearings Revocation Probation for 3 years $25,000 $5,000
(40) Fails to keep adequate medical records Suspension of 1 year Reprimand $25,000 $1,250
(41) Performs delegated medical acts beyond the scope of the delegation agreement filed with the Board or after notification from the Board that an advanced duty has been disapproved Revocation Suspension for 3 months $5,000 $5,000
(42) Performs delegated medical acts without the supervision of a physician Revocation Suspension for 3 months $5,000 $5,000