(1) Upon proof that
an applicant or licensee has engaged in an activity that is grounds for discipline
under subsection (2) of this section, the director may take disciplinary or other
action as authorized by section 12-20-404, including:
(a) Imposing an administrative fine not to exceed two thousand five hundred
dollars for each separate offense;
(b) Issuing a letter of admonition under the circumstances specified in and in
accordance with section 12-20-404 (4);
(c) Placing a licensee on probation pursuant to section 12-20-404 (1)(b),
which entails close supervision on the terms and for the period of time that the
director deems appropriate; or
(d) Denying, refusing to renew, revoking, or suspending the license of an
applicant or licensee pursuant to section 12-20-404 (1)(d).
(2) The following acts constitute grounds for discipline:
(a) Making a false or misleading statement or omission in an application for
licensure;
(b) Failing to notify the director of a change in the information filed pursuant
to section 12-210-105;
(c) Violating any provision of this article 210, including failure to comply with
the license requirements of section 12-210-105 or failure to report information as
required under section 12-30-102 or 12-210-105 (5), or violating an applicable
provision of article 20 or 30 of this title 12;
(d) Violating any rule promulgated by the director under this article 210;
(e) Aiding or abetting a violation, or conspiring to violate, any provision of this
article 210, an applicable provision of article 20 or 30 of this title 12, any rule
promulgated, or any order issued under this article 210 by the director;
(f) Failing to maintain professional liability insurance as required by section
12-210-111;
(g) Using false or misleading advertising;
(h) Violating the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, article 1 of title 6;
(i) Causing physical harm to a customer;
(j) Failing to practice audiology according to commonly accepted
professional standards;
(k) Providing services beyond the licensee's scope of educational
preparation, experience, skills, or competence;
(l) Failing to adequately supervise a trainee for any of the healing arts;
(m) Employing a sales agent or employee who violates any provision of this
article 210;
(n) Committing abuse of health insurance as described in section 18-13-119;
(o) Failing to comply with a final agency order or with a stipulation or
agreement made with or order issued by the director;
(p) Falsifying information in any application or attempting to obtain or
obtaining a license by fraud, deception, or misrepresentation;
(q) Excessively or habitually using or abusing alcohol or habit-forming drugs
or habitually using a controlled substance, as defined in section 18-18-102 (5), or
other drugs or substances having similar effects; except that the director has the
discretion not to discipline the licensee if the licensee is participating in good faith
in an alcohol or substance use disorder treatment program approved by the
director;
(r) (I) Failing to notify the director, as required by section 12-30-108 (1), of a
physical illness, physical condition, or behavioral, mental health, or substance use
disorder that impacts the licensee's ability to perform audiology with reasonable
skill and safety to patients;
(II) Failing to act within the limitations created by a physical illness, physical
condition, or behavioral, mental health, or substance use disorder that renders the
licensee unable to perform audiology with reasonable skill and safety to the
patient; or
(III) Failing to comply with the limitations agreed to under a confidential
agreement entered pursuant to sections 12-30-108 and 12-210-112;
(s) Refusing to submit to a physical or mental examination when so ordered
by the director pursuant to section 12-210-113;
(t) Failing to respond in an honest, materially responsive, and timely manner
to a complaint lodged against the licensee;
(u) In any court of competent jurisdiction, being convicted of, pleading guilty
or nolo contendere to, or receiving a deferred sentence for a felony or a crime
involving fraud, deception, false pretense, theft, misrepresentation, false
advertising, or dishonest dealing; and
(v) Failing to notify the director, in writing and within thirty days after a
judgment or settlement is entered, of a final judgment by a court of competent
jurisdiction against the licensee involving malpractice of audiology or a settlement
by the licensee in response to charges or allegations of malpractice of audiology
and, in the case of a judgment, failing to include in the notice the name of the court,
the case number, and the names of all parties to the action.
(3) The director may send the licensee a confidential letter of concern under
the circumstances specified in section 12-20-404 (5).
(4) Any disciplinary action taken by another state, local jurisdiction, or the
federal government against an applicant or licensee constitutes prima facie
evidence of grounds for disciplinary action, including denial of a license under this
article 210; except that this subsection (4) applies only to discipline for acts or
omissions that are substantially similar to those set out as grounds for disciplinary
action under this article 210.