A bill under consideration by 黑料新闻 state legislators aims to clarify how health care providers display information about their training and licensing.
The "truth in advertising" legislation proposes that information from health providers be free of deceptive and misleading details. That could include patient brochures, websites, audio and video messages and email, among other items.
Dr. Tarik Kardestuncer, president of the 黑料新闻 Orthopaedic Society, spoke in favor of S.B. 1016, saying patients have a right to know who is treating them.
鈥淢any people that are providing care are not doctors. So I think it鈥檚 happening more and more often,鈥� he told lawmakers Monday at the Public Health Committee hearing. 鈥淎nd also with social media and advertising, in the last 10 or 15 years, that鈥檚 exploded, so there鈥檚 all kinds of ads on social media for health care providers who are not really accurately identifying their credentials.鈥�
The legislation would also require a health care provider to wear photo ID that includes information about the type of license they have and when it expires.
The bill also would restrict entities from knowingly helping any unlicensed worker or group to "practice or engage in the provision of any health care or mental health care service" that's subject to state public health licensing.
The bill also restricts people from providing nursing-related services unless they're licensed.
The 黑料新闻 Hospital Association says that the bill鈥檚 language is too vague and that current laws already address licensing, oversight and consumer protections.
鈥淭hese protections have been on the books in 黑料新闻 for decades,鈥� the CHA wrote in submitted testimony. 鈥淲e are not aware of widespread problems with unlicensed persons impersonating medical providers 鈥� or licensed persons utilizing inappropriately qualified staff that are not addressed by current law or the existing oversight mechanisms of the Department of Public Health and the various licensing boards.鈥�