(A) The state medical board shall regulate the practice of respiratory care in this state and the persons to whom the board issues licenses and limited permits under this chapter. Rules adopted under this chapter that deal with the provision of respiratory care in a hospital, other than rules regulating the issuance of licenses or limited permits, shall be consistent with the conditions for participation under medicare, Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 79 Stat. 286 (1965), 42 U.S.C.A. 1395, as amended, and with the respiratory care accreditation standards of the joint commission or the American osteopathic association.

(B) The board shall adopt, and may rescind or amend, rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to carry out the purposes of this chapter, including rules prescribing the following:

(1) The form and manner for filing applications under sections 4761.05 and 4761.06 of the Revised Code;

(2) Standards for the approval of examinations and reexaminations administered by national organizations for licensure, license renewal, and license reinstatement;

(3) Standards for the approval of educational programs required to qualify for licensure and approval of continuing education programs required for license renewal;

(4) Continuing education courses and the number of hour requirements necessary for license renewal under section 4761.06 of the Revised Code, including rules providing for pro rata reductions by month of the number of hours of continuing education that must be completed for license holders who are in their first renewal period, have been disabled by illness or accident, or have been absent from the country;

(5) Procedures for the issuance and renewal of licenses and limited permits, including the duties that may be fulfilled by the board's executive director and other board employees;

(6) Procedures for the limitation, suspension, and revocation of licenses and limited permits, the refusal to issue, renew, or reinstate licenses and limited permits, and the imposition of a reprimand or probation under section 4761.09 of the Revised Code;

(7) Standards of ethical conduct for the practice of respiratory care;

(8) The respiratory care tasks that may be performed by an individual practicing as a polysomnographic technologist pursuant to division (B)(3) of section 4761.10 of the Revised Code;

(9) Requirements for criminal records checks of applicants under section 4776.03 of the Revised Code.

(C) The board shall determine the sufficiency of an applicant's qualifications for admission to the licensing examination or a reexamination, and for the issuance or renewal of a license or limited permit.

(D) The board shall determine the respiratory care educational programs that are acceptable for fulfilling the requirements of division (A) of section 4761.04 of the Revised Code.

(E)

(1) The board shall investigate evidence that appears to show that a person has violated any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted under it. Any person may report to the board in a signed writing any information that the person may have that appears to show a violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted under it. In the absence of bad faith, any person who reports information of that nature or who testifies before the board in any adjudication conducted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code shall not be liable in damages in a civil action as a result of the report or testimony. Each complaint or allegation of a violation received by the board shall be assigned a case number and shall be recorded by the board.

(2) Investigations of alleged violations of this chapter or any rule adopted under it shall be supervised by the supervising member elected by the board in accordance with section 4731.02 of the Revised Code and by the secretary as provided in section 4761.012 of the Revised Code. The president may designate another member of the board to supervise the investigation in place of the supervising member. No member of the board who supervises the investigation of a case shall participate in further adjudication of the case.

(3) In investigating a possible violation of this chapter or any rule adopted under it, the board may issue subpoenas, administer oaths, question witnesses, conduct interviews, order the taking of depositions, inspect and copy any books, accounts, papers, records, or documents, and compel the attendance of witnesses and production of books, accounts, papers, records, documents, and testimony, except that a subpoena for patient record information shall not be issued without consultation with the attorney general's office and approval of the secretary and supervising member of the board.

Before issuance of a subpoena for patient record information, the secretary and supervising member shall determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the complaint filed alleges a violation of this chapter or any rule adopted under it and that the records sought are relevant to the alleged violation and material to the investigation. The subpoena may apply only to records that cover a reasonable period of time surrounding the alleged violation.

On failure to comply with any subpoena issued by the board and after reasonable notice to the person being subpoenaed, the board may move for an order compelling the production of persons or records pursuant to the Rules of Civil Procedure.

A subpoena issued by the board may be served by a sheriff, the sheriff's deputy, or a board employee or agent designated by the board. Service of a subpoena issued by the board may be made by delivering a copy of the subpoena to the person named therein, reading it to the person, or leaving it at the person's usual place of residence, usual place of business, or address on file with the board. When serving a subpoena to an applicant for or the holder of a license or limited permit issued under this chapter, service of the subpoena may be made by certified mail, return receipt requested, and the subpoena shall be deemed served on the date delivery is made or the date the person refuses to accept delivery. If the person being served refuses to accept the subpoena or is not located, service may be made to an attorney who notifies the board that the attorney is representing the person.

A sheriff's deputy who serves a subpoena shall receive the same fees as a sheriff. Each witness who appears before the board in obedience to a subpoena shall receive the fees and mileage provided for under section 119.094 of the Revised Code.

(4) All hearings, investigations, and inspections of the board shall be considered civil actions for the purposes of section 2305.252 of the Revised Code.

(5) A report required to be submitted to the board under this chapter, a complaint, or information received by the board pursuant to an investigation is confidential and not subject to discovery in any civil action.

The board shall conduct all investigations or inspections and proceedings in a manner that protects the confidentiality of patients and persons who file complaints with the board. The board shall not make public the names or any other identifying information about patients or complainants unless proper consent is given.

The board may share any information it receives pursuant to an investigation or inspection, including patient records and patient record information, with law enforcement agencies, other licensing boards, and other governmental agencies that are prosecuting, adjudicating, or investigating alleged violations of statutes or administrative rules. An agency or board that receives the information shall comply with the same requirements regarding confidentiality as those with which the state medical board must comply, notwithstanding any conflicting provision of the Revised Code or procedure of the agency or board that applies when it is dealing with other information in its possession. In a judicial proceeding, the information may be admitted into evidence only in accordance with the Rules of Evidence, but the court shall require that appropriate measures are taken to ensure that confidentiality is maintained with respect to any part of the information that contains names or other identifying information about patients or complainants whose confidentiality was protected by the state medical board when the information was in the board's possession. Measures to ensure confidentiality that may be taken by the court include sealing its records or deleting specific information from its records.

(6) On a quarterly basis, the board shall prepare a report that documents the disposition of all cases during the preceding three months. The report shall contain the following information for each case with which the board has completed its activities:

(a) The case number assigned to the complaint or alleged violation;

(b) The type of license or limited permit, if any, held by the individual against whom the complaint is directed;

(c) A description of the allegations contained in the complaint;

(d) The disposition of the case.

The report shall state how many cases are still pending and shall be prepared in a manner that protects the identity of each person involved in each case. The report shall be a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(F) The board shall keep records of its proceedings and do other things as are necessary and proper to carry out and enforce the provisions of this chapter.

(G) The board shall maintain and publish on its internet web site all of the following:

(1) The requirements for the issuance of licenses and limited permits under this chapter and rules adopted by the board;

(2) A list of the names and locations of the institutions that each year granted degrees or certificates of completion in respiratory care.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 111, §1, eff. 9/28/2018.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 145, §1, eff. 2/8/2018.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §130.11, eff. 1/21/2018.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 165, §1, eff. 9/4/2014.

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 09-16-2004; 2007 HB104 03-24-2008 .