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2005 California Business and Professions Code Sections 680-685 Article 7.5. Health Care Practitioners
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODESECTION 680-685
680. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a health care practitioner shall disclose, while working, his or her name and practitioner's license status, as granted by this state, on a name tag in at least 18-point type. A health care practitioner in a practice or an office, whose license is prominently displayed, may opt to not wear a name tag. If a health care practitioner or a licensed clinical social worker is working in a psychiatric setting or in a setting that is not licensed by the state, the employing entity or agency shall have the discretion to make an exception from the name tag requirement for individual safety or therapeutic concerns. In the interest of public safety and consumer awareness, it shall be unlawful for any person to use the title "nurse" in reference to himself or herself and in any capacity, except for an individual who is a registered nurse or a licensed vocational nurse, or as otherwise provided in Section 2800. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a certified nurse assistant from using his or her title. (b) Facilities licensed by the State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Mental Health, or the State Department of Health Services shall develop and implement policies to ensure that health care practitioners providing care in those facilities are in compliance with subdivision (a). The State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Mental Health, and the State Department of Health Services shall verify through periodic inspections that the policies required pursuant to subdivision (a) have been developed and implemented by the respective licensed facilities. (c) For purposes of this article, "health care practitioner" means any person who engages in acts that are the subject of licensure or regulation under this division or under any initiative act referred to in this division. 681. (a) Commencing July 1, 2000, every person licensed pursuant to this division who collects human biological specimens for clinical testing or examination, shall secure, or ensure that his or her employees, agents, or contractors secure, those specimens in a locked container when those specimens are placed in a public location outside of the custodial control of the licensee, or his or her employees, agents, or contractors. (b) Containers used for human biological specimens put into use on or after January 1, 2001, shall be marked "Caution: Biohazardous Material -Please Do Not Touch or Handle," or words of similar meaning. (c) This section shall not apply where the biological specimens have been placed in the mail in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. (d) The licensing board having jurisdiction of the licensee may impose appropriate sanctions for violations of this section, including, if otherwise authorized by the licensing act, the imposition of a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). (e) As used in this section, "locked container" means a secure container that is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar locking device. 682. An individual authorized to prescribe emergency contraception who issues a prescription or order for emergency contraception drug therapy as a result of a patient contact by telephone or electronic means may not charge an administrative fee or fees totaling more than ten dollars ($10) for emergency contraception drug therapy services. This limitation is not intended to interfere with other contractually agreed-upon terms between an individual prescriber and a health care service plan, insurer, or disability insurer for payment directly to the prescriber by the plan or insurer. 683. (a) A board shall report, within 10 working days, to the State Department of Health Services the name and license number of a person whose license has been revoked, suspended, surrendered, made inactive by the licensee, or placed in another category that prohibits the licensee from practicing his or her profession. The purpose of the reporting requirement is to prevent reimbursement by the state for Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal services provided after the cancellation of a provider's professional license. (b) "Board," as used in this section, means the Dental Board of California, the Medical Board of California, the Board of Psychology, the State Board of Optometry, the California State Board of Pharmacy, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, and the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. 685. (a) (1) A board may cite and fine a currently licensed health care practitioner if he or she is in default on a United States Department of Health and Human Services education loan, including a Health Education Assistance Loan. (2) Each board that issues citations and imposes fines shall retain the money from these fines for deposit into its appropriate fund. (b) The board may deny a license to an applicant to be a health care practitioner or deny renewal of a license if he or she is in default on a United States Department of Health and Human Services education loan, including a Health Education Assistance Loan, until the default is cleared or until the applicant or licensee has made satisfactory repayment arrangements. (c) In determining whether to issue a citation and the amount of the fine to a health care practitioner or to deny a license to an applicant to be a health care practitioner or to deny the renewal of a license, a board shall take into consideration the following: (1) The population served by the health care practitioner. (2) The health care practitioner's economic status. (d) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) "Board" means a licensing board or agency having jurisdiction of a licensee, but does not include the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. (2) "Health care practitioner" means a person licensed or certified pursuant to this division or licensed pursuant to the Osteopathic Initiative Act. (e) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2003.
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