Although there is no federal or state law barring physicians from providing health care services to themselves or their immediate family members including prescribing medication, there are limitations imposed by both applicable ethical rules and third party payor billing policies. For example, the American Medical Association (“AMA”) has Ethics Opinion 8.19 which provides, in pertinent part, that: “physicians generally should not treat themselves or members of their immediate families” since their “professional objectivity may be compromised” and they may fail to: “probe sensitive areas when taking the medical history” or “perform intimate parts of a physical examination.” AMA Ethics Opinion 8.19 does indicate that self-treatment or immediate family treatment may be appropriate in emergency circumstances or isolated settings where there is no other available qualified physician, however, it warns that controlled substance prescribing for themselves or immediate family members should only be done in emergencies. Michigan physicians should be aware that a violation of the AMA Ethics Opinion 8.19 could give rise to an administrative action against the physician’s medical license under MCL 333.16221(b)(vi) which authorizes such action for lack of good moral character as evidenced by violation of the ethics opinion. It should also be noted that many third party payors have policies that bar claims for reimbursement for services rendered by physicians to themselves or their immediate family members. For examples, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan does not cover services that health care providers render to themselves or any first-degree relatives, including parents, siblings, spouse and children. This bar covers not only controlled substances but all care services and does not provide for any exceptions. Thus, in the rare event that a Michigan physician does provide self-treatment or immediate family treatment, he or she should document the treatment using a S.O.A.P. format and indicate the emergency reason (which is required if prescribing a controlled substance) and/or isolated circumstances (if not prescribing a controlled substance). Moreover, in either case, the physician should not bill a third party payor for his/her services unless such payor allows such claims (which is unlikely).
Robert S. Iwrey, Esq., a founding partner of The Health Law Partners, P.C., practices in all areas of healthcare law and devotes a substantial portion of his practice assisting clients in pharmacy legal matters including compliance, third party payor audits, government investigations, state licensing and DEA registrations. For more information regarding this article, please contact Robert S. Iwrey, Esq. at (248) 996-8510 or (212) 734-0128 or riwrey@thehlp.com.
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