Bill Text: MI HB4531 | 2015-2016 | 98th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Health occupations; physicians; licensure of naturopathic physicians; provide for. Amends 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.1101 - 333.25211) by adding sec. 16348a & pt. 186.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-05-03 - Referred To Second Reading [HB4531 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2015-HB4531-Introduced.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL No. 4531

April 28, 2015, Introduced by Reps. Lyons, Schor, Darany, Irwin, Dillon and Crawford and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.

 

     A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled

 

"Public health code,"

 

(MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding section 16348a and part 186.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 16348a. The department shall annually establish a

 

schedule of fees for an individual licensed or seeking a license as

 

a naturopathic physician under part 186 to offset the department's

 

administrative expenses under that part.

 

PART 186

 

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS

 

     Sec. 18601. (1) For purposes of this part, the words and

 

phrases defined in sections 18603 to 18609 have the meanings

 

ascribed to them in those sections.

 

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

 

contains general definitions and principles of construction


applicable to all articles in the code and part 161 contains

 

definitions applicable to this part.

 

     Sec. 18603. (1) "Approved naturopathic medical program" means

 

any of the following:

 

     (a) A naturopathic medical education program that is located

 

in the United States, that provides the degree of doctor of

 

naturopathy or doctor of naturopathic medicine, and that meets all

 

of the following requirements:

 

     (i) Offers graduate-level full-time didactic and supervised

 

clinical training.

 

     (ii) Is accredited or has achieved candidacy status for

 

accreditation by the CNME or an equivalent federally recognized

 

accrediting body for naturopathic medical programs approved by the

 

board.

 

     (iii) Is an institution or part of an institution of higher

 

education that is accredited or is a candidate for accreditation by

 

a regional or national institutional accrediting agency recognized

 

by the United States secretary of education.

 

     (b) A naturopathic medical education program offered by a

 

degree-granting college or university that was in existence before

 

the existence of the CNME and that meets all of the following

 

requirements:

 

     (i) Offered a full-time structured curriculum in basic

 

sciences and supervised patient care comprising a doctoral

 

naturopathic medical education.

 

     (ii) Was at least 132 weeks in duration and required

 

completion of the program within a period of at least 35 months as


a prerequisite to graduation.

 

     (iii) Was offered by a college or university that was

 

reputable and in good standing in the judgment of the board.

 

     (iv) If the program is still offered, it is accredited by the

 

CNME or an equivalent federally recognized accrediting body for

 

naturopathic medical programs approved by the board.

 

     (c) A naturopathic medical education program offered by a

 

diploma-granting, degree-equivalent college or university located

 

in Canada that was offered before the existence of the CNME and

 

that meets all of the following requirements:

 

     (i) Was offered by a college or university that had provincial

 

approval for participation in government-funded student aid

 

programs.

 

     (ii) Offered a full-time structured curriculum in basic

 

sciences and supervised patient care comprising a doctoral

 

naturopathic medical education.

 

     (iii) Was at least 132 weeks in duration and required

 

completion of the program within a period of at least 35 months as

 

a prerequisite to graduation.

 

     (iv) Was offered by a college or university that was reputable

 

and in good standing in the judgment of the board.

 

     (v) If the program is still offered, it is accredited by the

 

CNME or an equivalent federally recognized accrediting body for

 

naturopathic medical programs, approved by the board.

 

     (vi) If the program is still offered, the college or

 

university has provincial approval for participation in government-

 

funded student aid programs.


     (d) A naturopathic medical education program offered by a

 

diploma-granting, degree-equivalent college or university located

 

in Canada that provides the degree of doctor of naturopathy or

 

doctor of naturopathic medicine and that meets all of the following

 

requirements:

 

     (i) Offers graduate-level full-time didactic and supervised

 

clinical training.

 

     (ii) Is accredited or has achieved candidacy status for

 

accreditation by the CNME or an equivalent federally recognized

 

accrediting body for naturopathic medical programs approved by the

 

board.

 

     (iii) Is offered by a college or university that has

 

provincial approval for participation in government-funded student

 

aid programs.

 

     (2) "Board" means the board of naturopathic medicine created

 

in section 18623.

 

     (3) "CNME" means the Council on Naturopathic Medical

 

Education.

 

     Sec. 18605. "Minor office procedure" means any of the

 

following:

 

     (a) The use of operative, electrical, or other methods for the

 

repair and care incidental to superficial lacerations and

 

abrasions, superficial lesions, and the removal of foreign bodies

 

located in the superficial tissues and the use of antiseptics and

 

local topical anesthetics in connection with those methods.

 

     (b) Obtaining specimens to diagnose, assess, and treat

 

disease.


     Sec. 18607. (1) "Naturopathic formulary" or "formulary" means

 

the list of medicines, nonprescription and prescription, that

 

naturopathic physicians use in the practice of their profession, as

 

determined by the formulary council and reviewed by the board.

 

     (2) "Naturopathic formulary council" or "formulary council"

 

means the formulary council created in section 18627 to determine

 

and authorize the naturopathic formulary.

 

     (3) "Naturopathic medicine" means a system of practice that is

 

based on the natural healing capacity of individuals for the

 

diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases.

 

     (4) "Naturopathic physician" means an individual who engages

 

in the practice of naturopathic medicine and who is required to be

 

licensed or otherwise authorized under this part to engage in that

 

practice.

 

     Sec. 18609. (1) "Practice of naturopathic medicine" means

 

performing any of the tasks, functions, or duties that are

 

consistent with the individual's naturopathic education and

 

training and described in section 18615.

 

     (2) "Prescription drug" means that term as defined in section

 

17708.

 

     Sec. 18611. (1) Beginning 180 days after the effective date of

 

this section, and except as otherwise provided in this part, an

 

individual shall not engage in the practice of naturopathic

 

medicine unless licensed or otherwise authorized under this

 

article.

 

     (2) Subject to subsection (3), the following words, titles, or

 

letters or combination of the following words, titles, or letters,


with or without qualifying words or phrases, are restricted in use

 

to only those individuals authorized under this part to use the

 

terms and in a way prescribed in this part: "doctor of naturopathic

 

medicine", "doctor of naturopathy", "naturopathic physician",

 

"naturopathic doctor", "naturopathic medical doctor", "naturopathic

 

medicine", "n.d.", and "n.m.d.".

 

     (3) If he or she does not use the word or title "doctor",

 

"physician", "medical doctor", or "medicine", subsection (2) does

 

not restrict the use of any of the following words or titles by an

 

individual described in section 18619(1)(g) or (h) in connection

 

with his or her practice: "naturopathy", "naturopathic health

 

care", "naturopath", "naturopathic practitioner", or "traditional

 

naturopathic practitioner".

 

     Sec. 18613. (1) To be eligible for a license to engage in the

 

practice of naturopathic medicine in this state, an applicant shall

 

submit all of the following to the board, as applicable:

 

     (a) An application for licensure designed and approved by the

 

department.

 

     (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), evidence

 

that he or she is a graduate of an approved naturopathic medical

 

program and that he or she has successfully passed a competency-

 

based national naturopathic physicians licensing examination

 

administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners,

 

or by a successor agency that is nationally recognized to

 

administer a naturopathic physicians licensing examination that

 

represents federal standards of education and training and that is

 

approved by the board.


     (c) For a graduate of an approved naturopathic medical program

 

described in section 18603(1)(b) or (c), evidence of successful

 

passage of a board-approved state competency examination or

 

Canadian provincial examination.

 

     (d) Any other information or documents required under this

 

article or required by the board.

 

     (2) To be eligible for a license to engaging in the practice

 

of naturopathic medicine in this state, an applicant must be

 

physically and mentally capable of safely engaging in the practice

 

of naturopathic medicine with or without reasonable accommodation.

 

     (3) An applicant is not eligible for a license to engage in

 

the practice of naturopathic medicine in this state if he or she

 

has had a license to practice naturopathic medicine or other health

 

care license, registration, or certificate refused, revoked, or

 

suspended by any other jurisdiction for reasons that relate to the

 

applicant's ability to skillfully and safely practice naturopathic

 

medicine unless that license, registration, or certification has

 

been restored to good standing by that jurisdiction.

 

     Sec. 18615. A naturopathic physician may do any of the

 

following, consistent with his or her naturopathic education and

 

training:

 

     (a) Order and perform physical and laboratory examinations for

 

diagnostic purposes, including, but not limited to, phlebotomy,

 

clinical laboratory tests, orificial examinations, or physiological

 

function tests.

 

     (b) Order diagnostic imaging studies.

 

     (c) Dispense, administer, order, or prescribe or perform any


of the following:

 

     (i) Food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino

 

acids, minerals, enzymes, botanicals and their extracts, botanical

 

medicines, homeopathic medicines, all dietary supplements, or

 

nonprescription drugs as defined by the federal food, drug, and

 

cosmetic act, 21 USC 301 to 399d.

 

     (ii) Prescription or nonprescription medicines as designated

 

by the naturopathic formulary council.

 

     (iii) Hot or cold hydrotherapy; naturopathic physical

 

medicine; electromagnetic energy; or therapeutic exercise.

 

     (iv) Devices, including, but not limited to, therapeutic

 

devices, barrier contraception, or durable medical equipment.

 

     (v) Health education or health counseling.

 

     (vi) Repair and care incidental to superficial lacerations or

 

abrasions.

 

     (vii) Musculoskeletal manipulation.

 

     (d) Utilize routes of administration that include, but are not

 

limited to, oral, nasal, auricular, ocular, rectal, vaginal,

 

transdermal, intradermal, subcutaneous, intravenous, or

 

intramuscular consistent with his or her naturopathic education and

 

training.

 

     (e) Other naturopathic therapies as approved by the board.

 

     Sec. 18617. A naturopathic physician shall not do any of the

 

following:

 

     (a) Prescribe, dispense, or administer any controlled

 

substance or device identified in the federal controlled substances

 

act, 21 USC 801 to 971, except as authorized under this part.


     (b) Perform surgical procedures except, subject to section

 

18625(h), minor office procedures.

 

     (c) Engage in the practice of or claim to engage in the

 

practice of any other health profession unless licensed to engage

 

in that health profession under this article.

 

     (d) Use general or spinal anesthetics.

 

     (e) Administer ionizing radioactive substances for therapeutic

 

purposes.

 

     (f) Perform surgical procedures using a laser device.

 

     (g) Perform surgical procedures involving the eye, ear,

 

tendons, nerves, veins, or arteries.

 

     (h) Perform chiropractic adjustments unless licensed as a

 

chiropractor under part 164.

 

     Sec. 18619. (1) This part does not prohibit or restrict any of

 

the following:

 

     (a) The practice of a profession or occupation by an

 

individual who is licensed, certified, registered, or otherwise

 

authorized under this act or other laws of this state and who is

 

performing services within his or her authorized scope of practice.

 

     (b) The practice of naturopathic medicine by an individual

 

employed by the government of the United States while the

 

individual is engaged in the performance of duties prescribed by

 

the laws and regulations of the United States.

 

     (c) The practice of naturopathic medicine by students enrolled

 

in an approved naturopathic medical program. The performance of

 

services must be pursuant to a course of instruction or assignments

 

from an instructor and under the supervision of the instructor. The


instructor must be a naturopathic physician licensed under this

 

part or a duly licensed professional in the field of instruction.

 

     (d) Self-care by a patient or uncompensated care by a friend

 

or family member who does not represent or hold himself or herself

 

out to be a naturopathic physician.

 

     (e) An individual who sells vitamins and herbs from providing

 

information about his or her products.

 

     (f) An individual from advising in the use of a therapy,

 

including, but not limited to, herbal medicine, homeopathy,

 

nutrition, or other nondrug or nonsurgical therapy that is within

 

the scope of practice of naturopathic physicians under this part,

 

if all of the following requirements are met:

 

     (i) The individual is not a health professional and the

 

therapy is within that individual's lawful rights to perform under

 

a health occupation. If the individual is a health professional,

 

the therapy must be within the scope of practice of that profession

 

under this article.

 

     (ii) The individual is not using a word, a title, or letters

 

protected under this part and does not represent or hold himself or

 

herself out to be a naturopathic physician.

 

     (g) An individual who is educated and trained in naturopathy

 

or naturopathic health care and provides naturopathic therapy

 

within the scope of that education and training.

 

     (h) An individual who is educated and trained as a naturopath,

 

naturopathic practitioner, or traditional naturopathic practitioner

 

and provides naturopathic therapy within the scope of that

 

education and training.


     (2) This part does not prohibit an individual who is licensed

 

to practice as a naturopathic physician in any other state or

 

district in the United States from entering this state to consult

 

with a naturopathic physician in this state, as long as that

 

consultation is limited to examination, recommendation, or

 

testimony in litigation.

 

     Sec. 18621. (1) The department shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Promulgate all rules and conduct all hearings that are

 

required under this part.

 

     (b) Adopt the competency-based national examination consistent

 

with the requirements described in section 18613(1)(b) and (c) and

 

approved by the board as the naturopathic licensing examination.

 

     (c) Formulate rules and guidelines with appropriate notice to

 

those affected if notice can reasonably be given.

 

     (d) Designate the application form used by applicants and

 

process all applications.

 

     (e) Issue licenses and license renewals to all individuals who

 

meet the qualifications for licensure as described in this part and

 

as recommended by the board.

 

     (f) Establish procedures for the issuance of licenses and

 

license renewals to applicants who qualify for licensure by

 

reciprocity in this state, in lieu of taking the written

 

examination taken by all other individuals applying for licensure

 

in any other state, if the educational and examination requirements

 

for the state issuing the original license are equivalent to those

 

described in this part.

 

     (g) Determine the malpractice liability coverage requirements


for naturopathic physicians.

 

     (h) Investigate complaints of unprofessional or illegal

 

conduct by a naturopathic physician.

 

     (i) Determine whether a naturopathic physician will be the

 

subject of a disciplinary hearing.

 

     (j) Designate and impose sanctions and penalties for violation

 

of this part or rules promulgated under this part.

 

     (k) Provide for the rules for continuing education of

 

naturopathic physicians.

 

     (l) Bring proceedings in the courts for the enforcement of

 

this part.

 

     (m) Establish procedures to govern matters, directly or

 

indirectly, involving any individual related to the director in any

 

way by blood or marriage.

 

     (n) Delegate to the board the performance of any

 

administrative, nondisciplinary, and non-rule-making functions

 

assigned to the director under this part.

 

     (2) The director shall consult the board on matters involving

 

all of the following:

 

     (a) The qualifications of candidates who apply for licensure

 

to engage in the practice of naturopathic medicine in this state.

 

     (b) The content of any clinical, practical, or residency

 

requirement.

 

     (c) The content of rules and guidelines and proposed rules and

 

guidelines governing the practice of naturopathic medicine in this

 

state.

 

     (d) The investigation of all credible complaints from


naturopathic physicians and the public and on the technical aspects

 

of the complaint.

 

     (e) The requirements for issuance and renewal of licenses

 

under this part.

 

     (3) The director shall not discriminate against any individual

 

holding or applying for a license to engage in the practice of

 

naturopathic medicine by reason of sex, age, race, color, creed, or

 

national origin.

 

     Sec. 18623. (1) The board of naturopathic medicine is created

 

in the department. The board consists of 7 members appointed by the

 

governor, as follows:

 

     (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, 3

 

naturopathic physicians who are licensed and in good standing in

 

this state. For the initial board, a naturopathic physician

 

licensed and in good standing in another state may be appointed to

 

the board if he or she is a resident of this state and has been

 

engaged in the practice or instruction of naturopathic medicine for

 

at least 5 years.

 

     (b) Two physicians who are licensed under part 170 or 175.

 

     (c) Two members of the general public who are not and never

 

have been licensed health professionals under this act and who do

 

not have a financial or legal interest in naturopathic education,

 

business, or practice.

 

     (2) The governor shall appoint naturopathic physicians to the

 

board from a list of naturopathic physicians eligible to serve on

 

the board that is submitted to the governor by the Michigan

 

Association of Naturopathic Physicians or the American Association


of Naturopathic Physicians or a successor to those associations.

 

     (3) For the purpose of staggering terms, the governor shall

 

initially appoint to the board 3 members for terms of 4 years each,

 

2 members for terms of 3 years each, and 2 members for terms of 2

 

years each. As the terms of board members expire, the governor

 

shall appoint successors for terms of 4 years, and those members

 

shall serve until their successors are appointed.

 

     (4) The governor may remove any member of the board for cause

 

before the expiration of the member's term.

 

     (5) Within 30 days after its appointment, and at least

 

annually thereafter, the board shall hold a meeting and elect a

 

chairperson. The board may hold additional meetings on the call of

 

the chair or at the written request of any 2 members of the board.

 

The board may appoint any committees that it considers necessary to

 

carry out its duties. A majority of the board constitutes a quorum.

 

     (6) The board positions are uncompensated positions unless and

 

until the director considers compensation appropriate.

 

     Sec. 18625. The board may adopt any policies and procedures

 

necessary to carry out the purposes of this part and may recommend

 

disciplinary action as provided under this part. The board shall do

 

all of the following:

 

     (a) Perform any administrative, nondisciplinary, and non-rule-

 

making functions assigned to the board by the director as provided

 

under this part.

 

     (b) Determine the qualifications of individuals applying for

 

licensure under this part and define, by rule, the appropriate

 

scope of practice of naturopathic medicine in this state. However,


the scope of practice of naturopathic medicine must not exceed the

 

tasks, functions, and duties described in section 18615.

 

     (c) Review the content of rules and proposed rules governing

 

the practice of naturopathic medicine in this state.

 

     (d) Evaluate the content of any clinical, practical, or

 

residency requirement.

 

     (e) Provide any other services and perform any other functions

 

as are necessary and desirable to fulfill its purposes.

 

     (f) Propose to the department rules for examination standards,

 

consistent with the standards under this part, for licensure and

 

when those examinations will be provided.

 

     (g) Establish a minimum amount and kind of continuing

 

education to be required annually for each naturopathic physician

 

seeking licensure renewal.

 

     (h) Limit the performance of minor office procedures to a

 

naturopathic physician who has graduated from an approved

 

naturopathic medical program that included minor office procedures

 

as part of its curriculum or who has up-to-date certification of

 

equivalent training, as determined by the board, if he or she

 

graduated from an approved naturopathic medical program that did

 

not include minor office procedures as part of the curriculum.

 

     (i) Limit the prescribing authority for prescription drugs to

 

a naturopathic physician who has graduated from an approved

 

naturopathic medical program that included pharmacology as part of

 

its curriculum or who has up-to-date certification of equivalent

 

training, as determined by the board, if he or she graduated from

 

an approved naturopathic medical program that did not include


pharmacology as part of the curriculum.

 

     (j) Investigate all credible complaints from naturopathic

 

physicians and the public as directed by the director.

 

     (k) Propose to the department rules to establish guidelines

 

for the disposition of disciplinary cases involving specific types

 

of violations. The guidelines may include minimum and maximum

 

fines, periods of supervision or probation, or conditions of

 

probation or reissuance of a license.

 

     (l) Provide evaluations regarding the requirements for

 

issuance and renewal of naturopathic medical licenses to the

 

department.

 

     Sec. 18627. (1) The naturopathic formulary council is created.

 

The formulary council is separate and distinct from the board and

 

is composed of 5 members, as follows:

 

     (a) Two naturopathic physicians appointed by the board.

 

     (b) Two pharmacists licensed under part 177, appointed by the

 

board from a list of nominees provided by the Michigan board of

 

pharmacy.

 

     (c) One physician licensed under part 170 or 175, appointed by

 

the board from a list of nominees provided by the Michigan board of

 

medicine or the Michigan board of osteopathic medicine and surgery.

 

     (2) The naturopathic formulary council shall establish a

 

naturopathic formulary for use by naturopathic physicians. When it

 

adopts or revises the formulary, the formulary council shall

 

immediately transmit the formulary to the board. The board shall

 

request that the department adopt the formulary by rule.

 

     (3) The formulary council shall review the naturopathic


formulary annually or at any time at the request of the board.

 

     (4) The naturopathic formulary must not go beyond the scope of

 

natural medicines or prescription drugs and devices covered by

 

approved naturopathic education and training or board-approved

 

continuing education.

 

     (5) The naturopathic formulary must not include medicines or

 

devices that are inconsistent with the training provided by

 

approved naturopathic medical programs.

 

     (6) This section does not allow a naturopathic physician to

 

dispense, administer, or prescribe any prescription drug or device

 

as defined in part 177, unless that prescription drug or device is

 

specifically included in the naturopathic formulary.

 

     Sec. 18631. A naturopathic physician shall observe and is

 

subject to all state, county, and municipal rules, ordinances, or

 

regulations in regard to the control of contagious and infectious

 

diseases, the reporting of births and deaths, and any and all other

 

matters pertaining to the public health in the same manner as is

 

required of other health professionals under this act. A violation

 

of any state, county, or municipal rule, ordinance, or regulation

 

described in this section is considered a violation of this act

 

subject to the investigation and sanction provisions of sections

 

16221 and 16226. The penalties and remedies under this part are

 

independent and cumulative. The use of 1 remedy by a person does

 

not bar the use of other lawful penalties or remedies by that

 

person or the use of a lawful penalty or remedy by another person.

 

     Sec. 18633. The board shall not reinstate the license of a

 

naturopathic physician until the board is satisfied that the


individual has complied with all of the terms and conditions set

 

forth in the final order and that he or she is capable of safely

 

engaging in the practice of naturopathic medicine.

 

     Sec. 18635. (1) The board may issue a license without

 

additional examination to an applicant who submits an application

 

for licensure together with the appropriate fee and proof

 

acceptable to the department of current naturopathic medicine

 

licensure in good standing in another state, the District of

 

Columbia, or a territory of the United States, whose standards for

 

licensure are at least equivalent to those of this state.

 

     (2) An applicant seeking a license without additional

 

examination under this section shall provide proof of licensure in

 

good standing in all jurisdictions in which he or she is or has

 

been licensed.

 

     Sec. 18637. (1) Each license issued or renewed under this part

 

expires 2 years following its issuance or last renewal.

 

     (2) The director may renew the license of any licensee whose

 

license has expired if he or she does all of the following:

 

     (a) Submits an application for renewal.

 

     (b) Pays the renewal fee.

 

     (c) Meets the qualifications for licensure under this part.

 

     (d) Meets the continuing education requirements established by

 

the board.

 

     Sec. 18639. An individual who engages in the practice of

 

naturopathic medicine after the individual's license is revoked is

 

engaging in the practice of naturopathic medicine without a

 

license. However, at any time after the expiration of 6 months


after the date of the conviction that resulted in the license

 

revocation, the department may reinstate the individual's license

 

and restore to him or her all the rights and privileges of and

 

pertaining to the practice of naturopathic medicine under this

 

part. The reinstatement fee shall be set by the board, in an amount

 

that does not exceed $150.00.

 

     Sec. 18641. (1) Any person may report to the department in

 

writing any information the person has reason to believe indicates

 

that a naturopathic physician is or may be medically or legally

 

incompetent, engaged in the unauthorized or illegal practice of

 

naturopathic medicine, guilty of unprofessional conduct, or

 

mentally or physically unable to engage safely in the practice of

 

naturopathic medicine.

 

     (2) Each of the following persons shall report to the

 

department in writing any information the person has reason to

 

believe indicates that a naturopathic physician is or may be

 

medically or legally incompetent, engaged in the unauthorized

 

practice of naturopathic medicine, guilty of unprofessional

 

conduct, or mentally or physically unable to engage safely in the

 

practice of naturopathic medicine, within 30 days of becoming aware

 

of that information:

 

     (a) A naturopathic physician licensed under this part.

 

     (b) A health professional licensed under this article.

 

     (c) A health facility or agency in this state.

 

     (d) A state department or agency.

 

     (e) A law enforcement agency in this state.

 

     (3) A health facility or agency and a licensee shall promptly


report to the department the voluntary resignation of the licensee

 

from the staff of a health facility or agency, the voluntary

 

limitation of the licensee's staff privileges, or failure of the

 

licensee to reapply for hospital privileges at a facility or agency

 

if that action occurs while the licensee is under formal or

 

informal investigation by the health facility or agency or a

 

committee of the health facility or agency for any reason related

 

to possible medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct, or mental

 

or physical impairment.

 

     (4) If it receives a credible complaint or report concerning a

 

licensee, or on its own motion, the department may investigate as

 

provided in section 16221.

 

     (5) A person that in good faith complies with this section is

 

not liable for damages in a civil action or subject to prosecution

 

in a criminal proceeding as a result of a report under this

 

section.

 

     (6) Within 10 days after receiving a report required under

 

this section, the director shall acknowledge receipt of the reports

 

and any complaint against a licensee submitted to the department.

 

Within 10 days after final disposition, the director shall inform

 

any person or entity whose report or complaint has resulted in

 

action by the department of the final disposition of the matter.

 

     (7) If a person fails to make a report required under this

 

section, the director, in his or her discretion and after

 

consultation with the board, may assess an administrative fine of

 

not more than $5,000.00 against that person, if assessment of that

 

fine is supported by substantial evidence. A person may appeal the


assessment of an administrative fine under this subsection in the

 

manner provided in the administrative procedures act of 1969.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.

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