Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024
(1) Defined. Advertising shall mean any information communicated in a manner designed to attract public attention to the practice of the licensee or the chiropractic profession. Advertising shall include but not be limited to any communication which is published, displayed, printed, broadcast, or spoken including the use of newspapers and other publications, telephone directories, pamphlets, handouts, billboards, window displays, radio, television, telephone, computer, internet, fax or other telecommunication device or any other means or medium.
(2) A licensee shall not make any false, misleading, or deceptive communication in any form of advertising nor shall the licensee utilize any form of advertising which has the capacity or tendency to deceive, mislead, or confuse the recipient in any manner including but not limited to the following:
(a) Advertising which contains a misrepresentation of any fact or facts including advertising which has the capacity or tendency to mislead, deceive, or confuse any potential recipient either through false or misleading claims or by failing to disclose relevant or material facts;
(b) Advertising which conveys the impression of professional superiority or other superior attributes that cannot be substantiated. Licensees may not advertise that they have certifications or have attained diplomate status without having been conferred the title of diplomate or having received certifications by one or more of the groups found in board rule 100-4-.02.
(c) Advertising that has the capacity or tendency to create false or unjustified expectations of beneficial treatment or successful cures;
(d) Advertising that contains any guarantee of the results of any services;
(e) Advertising of services that the licensee is not licensed to perform in this state;
(f) Advertising, including that place in a classified or telephone directory, under a heading which may foster confusion about the professional status of the chiropractor or under a professional heading in which the chiropractor is not licensed;
(g) Advertising a transaction that is in itself illegal;
(3) Chiropractors licensed under this chapter may only use the terms chiropractor, chiropractors, doctors(s) of chiropractic, and/or D.C. The use of the term Chiropractic Physicians is not authorized.
(4) Licensees may advertise that they will perform designated chiropractic services free or at a discount if, in fact, no compensation in any form for such services will be requested from the patient, their insurer, or any third party subject to the following provisions:
(i) A detailed account of the advertised services being offered free or at a discount must be presented in writing to, and signed by, the patient, clearly explaining that ANY FURTHER TREATMENT WILL BE PROVIDED AT RATES REGULARLY CHARGED BY THIS OFFICE. A copy of this document must be given to the patient and the original must be maintained in the patient record in keeping with Rule 100-10-.01(h)(i) which requires that such records be retained for not less than seven (7) years from the date of service.
(ii) If a charge is made for any service rendered on the same day that an advertised free or discounted service is rendered, a detail account of those services offered for a fee must be provided in writing to, and signed by the patient, clearly explaining that these treatments are not a part of any offer of free or discounted services. A copy of this document must be given to the patient and the original must be maintained in the patient record in keeping with Rule 100-10-.01(h)(i) which requires that such records be retained for not less than seven (7) years from the date of services.
(iii) For the purpose of this Section, no separate charge shall be made for the professional evaluation of diagnostic tests or procedures which are provided without cost or at a discount whether such professional evaluation is made at the time of the initial office visit or at a later date.
(5) Nothing is this Section shall be so interpreted as to interfere with or prohibit fee discounts or offers of discounted fees in connection with any managed care plan, group plan, Medicare, or similar entity.
O.C.G.A. Secs. 43-1-25, 43-9-6.1, 43-9-12, 43-9-16.
