Disciplinary actions.

(a) The board may invoke disciplinary action as outlined in subsection (b) whenever it establishes to the satisfaction of the board, after a hearing as provided in Sections 41-22-1 through 41-22-17, the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act, that any person or entity to whom a license, registration, accreditation, or renewal thereof has been issued is guilty of any of the following:

(1) Fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation in obtaining any license, registration, accreditation, or renewal thereof or money or other thing of value.

(2) Gross immorality.

(3) Being an habitual user of intoxicants or drugs rendering the person unfit for the practice of prosthetics, orthotics, or pedorthics.

(4) Conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.

(5) Gross negligence in the practice of prosthetics, orthotics, or pedorthics.

(6) Employing, allowing, or permitting any unlicensed person to perform any work in his or her office or facility which, under this chapter, may only be legally performed by a person holding a required license or registration.

(7) Violating any rule adopted by the board.

(8) Violating any provision of this chapter.

(9) Has had his or her license or registration to practice prosthetics, orthotics, or pedorthics or accreditation from another state subject to discipline for acts similar to those described in this subsection. A certified copy of the discipline from the state imposing the same shall be conclusive evidence thereof.

(10) Irregularities in billing an insurance company or other third-party payor for services rendered. Irregularities shall include reporting charges for the purpose of obtaining a total payment in excess of that usually received for the services rendered, falsely reporting treatment dates for the purpose of obtaining payments, falsely reporting charges for services not rendered, or falsely reporting services rendered for the purpose of obtaining payment.

(11) Unprofessional conduct as defined by rule of the board.

(b) When the board finds any person or entity to whom a license, registration, accreditation, or renewal thereof is issued guilty of any of the grounds set forth in subsection (a), it may enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties:

(1) Refuse to issue or deny any license, registration, accreditation, or renewal thereof.

(2) Revoke or suspend any license, registration, accreditation, or renewal thereof issued or required by the board.

(3) Enter a censure.

(4) Enter an order fixing a period of probation best adapted to protect the public health and safety and for rehabilitation.

(5) Impose an administrative fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each count or separate offense.

(6) Impose the costs of any investigation or disciplinary proceeding.

(7) Impose restrictions on the scope of practice.

(8) Impose peer review or professional education requirements.

(c) Failure to comply with any final or consent order of the board, including, but not limited to, an order of censure or probation, is cause for suspension or revocation.

(Act 2002-527, p. 1376, §6; Act 2009-300, p. 510, §1.)