| (a) As used in this section:
(1) "Voluntary charity care" means medical care provided
for no compensation to:
(A) indigent populations;
(B) in medically underserved areas; or
(C) for a disaster relief organization.
(2) "Compensation" means direct or indirect payment
of anything of monetary value, except payment or reimbursement of
reasonable, necessary, and actual travel and related expenses.
(b) To be eligible for voluntary charity care status,
a practitioner must:
(1) apply on a department approved form; and
(2) pay any required fee.
(c) The practice by a podiatrist on voluntary charity
care status:
(1) does not include the provision of podiatric services
for compensation which has monetary value of any kind;
(2) is limited to voluntary charity care for which
the practitioner receives no compensation of any kind for podiatric
services rendered;
(3) does not include the provision of podiatric services
to members of the practitioner's family; and
(4) does not include the self-prescribing of controlled
substances or dangerous drugs.
(d) A podiatrist on voluntary charity care status must:
(1) renew the voluntary charity status every two years
in a manner prescribed by the department; and
(2) complete twenty-five (25) hours of CME during each
renewal cycle.
(e) A podiatrist on voluntary charity care status is
subject to disciplinary action for:
(1) a violation of the Act or rule adopted under this
chapter;
(2) obtaining, or attempting to obtain, voluntary charity
care status by submitting false or misleading information to the department;
or
(3) unprofessional or dishonorable conduct likely to
deceive, defraud, or injure the public if the practitioner engages
in the compensated practice of podiatric medicine, the provision of
podiatric services to members of the practitioner's family, or the
self-prescribing of controlled substances or dangerous drugs.
(f) A podiatrist on voluntary charity care status must
apply with the department before returning to active status by:
(1) submitting a department approved application;
(2) providing a description of the work performed while
on voluntary charity care status;
(3) paying the required doctor of podiatric medicine
renewal fee; and
(4) completing an additional 25 hours of CME to meet
the doctor of podiatric medicine renewal requirements;
(g) The department may require additional information,
education, examinations, or training from a podiatrist who has been
on voluntary charity care status for more than two years before returning
to active status.
|
