AS 08.11.080: Grounds for imposition of disciplinary sanctions on an audiologist.

(a) After a hearing, the department may impose a disciplinary sanction on an audiologist when the department finds that the licensee

(1) secured a license through deceit, fraud, or intentional misrepresentation;

(2) engaged in deceit, fraud, or intentional misrepresentation in the course of practicing audiology;

(3) advertised professional services in a false or misleading manner;

(4) has been convicted of a felony or other crime that affects the person's ability to continue to practice competently and safely;

(5) continued to practice audiology after becoming unfit due to

(A) professional incompetence;

(B) use of drugs or alcohol in a manner that affects the person's ability to practice audiology competently and safely;

(C) physical or mental disability;

(6) permitted another person to use the licensee's license;

(7) employed a person who does not have a valid current license to practice audiology to perform work as an audiologist covered by this chapter;

(8) failed to comply with a provision of this chapter or a regulation adopted under this chapter, or an order of the department.

(b) The department may not impose disciplinary sanctions on an audiologist for the evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment of a person through audio, video, or data communications when physically separated from the person if the audiologist

(1) or another licensed health care provider is available to provide follow-up care;

(2) requests that the person consent to sending a copy of all records of the encounter to a primary care provider if the audiologist is not the person's primary care provider and, if the person consents, the audiologist sends the records to the person's primary care provider; and

(3) meets the requirements established by the department in regulation.

(c) The department shall adopt regulations restricting the evaluation, diagnosis, supervision, and treatment of a person as authorized under (b) of this section by establishing standards of care, including standards for training, confidentiality, supervision, practice, and related issues.