(a)The general assembly recognizes that consumers of substance abuse treatment have disabling conditions and that consumers and their families are vulnerable and at risk of being easily victimized by fraudulent marketing practices that adversely impact the delivery of health care. To protect the health, safety, and welfare of this vulnerable population, a service provider of alcohol and drug services or an operator of an alcohol and drug treatment facility (ADTF) shall not engage in any of the following marketing practices:
(1)Making a materially false or misleading statement or providing materially false or misleading information about the provider's or operator's identity, products, goods, services, or geographical locations in its marketing, advertising materials, or media or on its w
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(a) The general assembly recognizes that consumers of substance abuse treatment have disabling conditions and that consumers and their families are vulnerable and at risk of being easily victimized by fraudulent marketing practices that adversely impact the delivery of health care. To protect the health, safety, and welfare of this vulnerable population, a service provider of alcohol and drug services or an operator of an alcohol and drug treatment facility (ADTF) shall not engage in any of the following marketing practices: (1) Making a materially false or misleading statement or providing materially false or misleading information about the provider's or operator's identity, products, goods, services, or geographical locations in its marketing, advertising materials, or media or on its website; (2) Including on its website false information or electronic links, coding, or activation that provides false information or that surreptitiously directs the reader to another website; (3) Soliciting, receiving, or making an attempt to solicit or receive a commission, benefit, rebate, kickback, or bribe, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, or engaging or making an attempt to engage in a split-fee arrangement in return for a referral or an acceptance or acknowledgement of treatment from a service provider of alcohol and drug services or ADTF; or (4) Entering into a contract with a marketing provider who agrees to generate referrals or leads for the placement of patients with a service provider of alcohol and drug services or in an ADTF through a call center or a web-based presence. This subdivision (a)(4) shall not apply if the service provider of alcohol and drug services or the operator of the ADTF discloses to the prospective patient, so that the patient can make an informed healthcare decision, in clear and concise language and instructions that allow the prospective patient to easily determine whether the marketing provider represents specific service providers or recovery residences that pay a fee to the marketing provider, and the identity of such service providers of alcohol and drug services or ADTF. (b) In addition to any other punishment authorized by law, a person or entity that knowingly violates this section is subject to suspension or revocation of the person's or entity's license pursuant to § 33-2-407 and the imposition of civil penalties under § 33-2-409 .