Division (B) of section 4731.224 of the Revised Code requires any individual licensed under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code or any association or society of individuals so licensed to report to the board a belief that a practitioner suffers from impairment. Division (B) of section 4730.32 of the Revised Code requires any physician assistant, society of physician assistants, physician or society of physicians that believes a violation of any provision of Chapter 4730., Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, or rule of the board has occurred shall report to the board the information upon which the belief is based. That reporting requirement is relieved if the practitioner cooperates with a referral to an approved treatment provider, and so long as the individual, association or society has no reason to believe that the practitioner has ceased to participate in the treatment program in accordance with section 4731.25 of the Revised Code. A practitioner who has been referred to an approved treatment provider shall execute, and shall not revoke, appropriate release forms to allow the referring party to monitor his progress in treatment. The referring individual, association or society shall contact the approved treatment provider to ascertain the practitioner's progress at least once weekly during the first four weeks following referral, and at least once monthly thereafter. If at any time the approved treatment provider indicates that the practitioner has not continued to participate in accordance with section 4731.25 of the Revised Code, or if the approved treatment provider refuses to release information, the individual, association or society shall report to the board all information which led to the belief that the practitioner suffers from impairment, as required by division (B) of section 4731.224 or division (B) of section 4730.32 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4731 15 of the Administrative Code.

Effective: September 1, 1999