(A) The bureau of workers' compensation may summarily suspend the certification of a provider to participate in the health partnership program created under sections 4121.44 and 4121.441 of the Revised Code without a prior hearing if the bureau determines any of the following apply to the provider:

(1) The professional license, certification, or registration held by the provider to practice the provider's profession has been revoked or suspended for an indefinite period of time or for a period of more than thirty days, subsequent to the provider's certification to participate in the health partnership program.

(2) The provider has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2913.48 or sections 2923.31 to 2923.36 of the Revised Code or has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any other criminal offense related to the delivery of or billing for health care services.

(3) The bureau determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that the continued participation by the provider in the health partnership program presents a danger of immediate and serious harm to claimants.

(B) The bureau shall issue a written order of summary suspension by certified mail or in person in accordance with section 119.07 of the Revised Code. If the provider subject to the summary suspension requests an adjudicatory hearing by the bureau, the date set for the hearing shall be not later than fifteen days, but not earlier than seven days, after the provider requests the hearing, unless otherwise agreed to by both the bureau and the provider.

(C) If an order issued pursuant to this section is appealed, the court may stay execution of the order and fix the terms of the stay, if the court finds both of the following:

(1) That an unusual hardship to the appellant will result from execution of the order pending appeal;

(2) That the health, safety, and welfare of the public will not be threatened by staying execution of the order pending appeal.

(D) A court or agency order staying the suspension of a professional license, certification, or registration shall not affect the ability of the bureau to suspend the certification of a provider to participate in the health partnership program under this section.

(E) The summary suspension of a certification of a provider under this section shall not affect the ability of that provider to receive payment for services rendered prior to the effective date of the suspension.

(F) Any summary suspension imposed under this section shall remain in effect, unless reversed on appeal, until a final adjudication order issued by the bureau pursuant to this section and Chapter 119. of the Revised Code takes effect. The bureau shall issue its final adjudication order within seventy-five days after completion of its hearing. A failure to issue the order within the seventy-five-day time period shall result in dissolution of the summary suspension order but shall not invalidate any subsequent, final adjudication order.

(G) As used in this section, "provider" does not include a hospital.

Added by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 493, §1, eff. 9/17/2014.