2013 New York Consolidated Laws
PBH - Public Health
Article 45 - (4500 - 4503) MEDICAL REFERRAL SERVICES
4500 - Legislative findings and statement of policy.

 
    §  4500. Legislative findings and statement of policy. The security of
  the health and welfare of the residents of this state requires, that the
  utmost attention be given to assure that persons  seeking  medical  care
  and  treatment  in  this state receive adequate care rendered within the
  standards of ethics and public policy applicable  to  all  practices  of
  medicine.   Medical   referral  services,  organized  as  profit  making
  enterprises within this state, have been found  to  be  engaged  in  the
  practice of medicine, have been sharing fees received for referrals with
  doctors and hospitals to whom patients are referred, have been otherwise
  compensating  doctors  and  hospitals for accepting patients referred to
  them, have been giving medical advice by telephone  to  persons  seeking
  referrals  and have been advertising their services, all in violation of
  the standards of ethics and public policy applicable to the practice  of
  medicine  and  which  would  be  violations of standards of professional
  conduct if the acts were performed by physicians.   Such  profit  making
  referral services have consistently engaged in practices inimical to the
  public interest which would be prohibited to physicians and have engaged
  in  relationships with physicians which are in violation of the laws and
  public policy of this state  and  which  have  permitted  physicians  to
  benefit  indirectly from acts and practices which would be prohibited to
  them directly.  It is hereby declared to be the public  policy  of  this
  state that the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of this
  state   require   that  such  profit  making  medical  referral  service
  organizations be declared to be invalid and unlawful in this state.