I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 451 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 26, 2011 Mr. Sullivan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To ensure that patients receive accurate health care information by prohibiting misleading and deceptive advertising or representation in the provision of health care services, and to require the identification of the license of health care professionals.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2011.

2.

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)many types of health care professionals including physicians, technicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other allied practitioners are engaged in providing services in health care settings, and all of these individuals play an important and distinct role in the health care delivery system; (2)the exchange of information between patients and their health care professionals is critical to helping patients understand their health care choices; (3)consumers are often unaware of the differences in, and seek more information about, the qualifications, training, and education of their health care professionals; (4)evidence exists of patient confusion resulting from ambiguous health care nomenclature and related advertisements and marketing products; and (5)nationwide surveys conducted in 2008 and 2010 revealed the depth of confusion regarding the education, skills, and training of health care professionals and indicated strong support for regulating the advertising and marketing claims of health care professionals.

3.

Health care service professional unfair and deceptive acts and practices

(a)

Conduct prohibited

It shall be unlawful for any person to make any deceptive or misleading statement, or engage in any deceptive or misleading act, that— (1)misrepresents whether such person holds a State health care license; or (2)misrepresents such person’s education, training, degree, license, or clinical expertise. (b)

Requirement To identify license in advertising

Any person who is advertising health care services provided by such person, shall disclose in such advertisement the applicable license under which such person is authorized to provide such services. (c)

Enforcement

A violation of subsection (a) or (b) shall be treated as an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45). The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.

4.

Truth in advertising study

(a)

Study

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission shall conduct a study of health care professionals subject to the requirement of section 3(a) to— (1)identify specific acts and practices constituting a violation of such section; (2)determine the frequency of such acts and practices; (3)identify instances of harm or injury resulting from such acts and practices; (4)determine the extent to which such persons comply with State laws or regulations that— (A)require oral or written disclosure, to the patient or in an advertisement, of the type of license such person holds; and (B)set forth requirements for advertisements for health care services with regard to disclosure of the type of license under which such person is authorized to provide such services; and (5)identify instances where any State public policy has permitted acts and practices which violate section 3(a). (b)

Report

The Federal Trade Commission shall report its findings to Congress not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

5.

Rule of construction

Nothing in this Act shall be construed or have the effect of changing State scope of practice for any health care professional.

6.

Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Trade Commission such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016.