(1) For the purpose of this article 240, "practice of medicine" means:
Holding out one's self to the public within this state as being able to diagnose, treat,prescribe for, palliate, or prevent any human disease; ailment; pain; injury; deformity; physical condition; or behavioral, mental health, or substance use disorder, whether by the use of drugs, surgery, manipulation, electricity, telemedicine, the interpretation of tests, including primary diagnosis of pathology specimens, images, or photographs, or any physical, mechanical, or other means whatsoever;
Suggesting, recommending, prescribing, or administering any form of treatment, operation, or healing for the intended palliation, relief, or cure of a person's physical disease; ailment; injury; condition; or behavioral, mental health, or substance use disorder;
The maintenance of an office or other place for the purpose of examining or treatingpersons afflicted with disease; injury; or a behavioral, mental health, or substance use disorder;
Using the title "M.D.", "D.O.", "physician", "surgeon", or any word or abbreviationto indicate or induce others to believe that one is licensed to practice medicine in this state and engaged in the diagnosis or treatment of persons afflicted with disease; injury; or a behavioral, mental health, or substance use disorder, except as otherwise expressly permitted by the laws of
this state enacted relating to the practice of any limited field of the healing arts; (e) Performing any kind of surgical operation upon a human being; (f) The practice of midwifery, except:
Services rendered by certified nurse-midwives properly licensed and practicing inaccordance with the provisions of part 1 of article 255 of this title 12; or
(A) Services rendered by a person properly registered as a direct-entry midwife andpracticing in accordance with article 225 of this title 12.
(B) This subsection (1)(f)(II) is repealed, effective September 1, 2023.
(g) The delivery of telemedicine. Nothing in this subsection (1)(g) authorizes physicians to deliver services outside their scope of practice or limits the delivery of health services by other licensed professionals, within the professional's scope of practice, using advanced technology, including, but not limited to, interactive audio, interactive video, or interactive data communication.
If a person who does not possess and has not filed a license to practice medicine,practice as a physician assistant, or practice as an anesthesiologist assistant in this state, as provided in this article 240, and who is not exempted from the licensing requirements under this article 240, performs any of the acts that constitute the practice of medicine as defined in this section, the person shall be deemed to be practicing medicine, practicing as a physician assistant, or practicing as an anesthesiologist assistant in violation of this article 240.
A person may engage in, and shall not be required to obtain a license or a physiciantraining license under this article 240 with respect to, any of the following acts:
The gratuitous rendering of services in cases of emergency;
The occasional rendering of services in this state by a physician if the physician:
Is licensed and lawfully practicing medicine in another state or territory of the UnitedStates without restrictions or conditions on the physician's license;
Does not have any established or regularly used medical staff membership or clinicalprivileges in this state;
Is not party to any contract, agreement, or understanding to provide services in thisstate on a regular or routine basis;
Does not maintain an office or other place for the rendering of such services;
Has medical liability insurance coverage in the amounts required pursuant to section
13-64-302 for the services rendered in this state; and
Limits the services provided in this state to an occasional case or consultation;
The practice of dentistry under the conditions and limitations defined by the laws ofthis state;
The practice of podiatry under the conditions and limitations defined by the laws ofthis state;
The practice of optometry under the conditions and limitations defined by the laws ofthis state;
The practice of chiropractic under the conditions and limitations defined by the lawsof this state;
The practice of religious worship;
The practice of Christian Science, with or without compensation;
The performance by commissioned medical officers of the armed forces of the UnitedStates of America or of the United States public health service or of the United States veterans administration of their lawful duties in this state as officers;
The rendering of nursing services and delegated medical functions by registered orother nurses in the lawful discharge of their duties;
The rendering of services by students currently enrolled in an approved medical college;
The rendering of services, other than the prescribing of drugs, by persons qualified byexperience, education, or training, under the personal and responsible direction and supervision of a person licensed under the laws of this state to practice medicine, but nothing in this exemption shall be deemed to extend or limit the scope of any license, and this exemption shall not apply to persons otherwise qualified to practice medicine but not licensed to practice in this state;
The practice by persons licensed or registered under any law of this state to practicea limited field of the healing arts not specifically designated in this section, under the conditions and limitations defined by the law;
The administration and monitoring of medications in facilities as provided in part 3 of article 1.5 of title 25;
The rendering of acupuncture services subject to the conditions and limitations provided in article 200 of this title 12;
The administration of nutrition or fluids through gastrostomy tubes as provided insections 25.5-10-204 (2)(j) and 27-10.5-103 (2)(i), as a part of residential or day program services provided through service agencies approved by the department of health care policy and financing pursuant to section 25.5-10-208;
(I) The administration of topical and aerosol medications within the scope of physical therapy practice as provided in section 12-285-116 (2);
(II) The performance of wound debridement under a physician's order within the scope of physical therapy practice as provided in section 12-285-116 (3) or the performance of noninvasive wound debridement within the scope of practice as a physical therapist assistant as provided in section 12-285-210 (1)(f);
The rendering of services by an athletic trainer subject to the conditions and limitations provided in article 205 of this title 12;
(I) The rendering of prescriptions by an advanced practice registered nurse pursuantto section 12-255-112.
On or after July 1, 2010, a physician who serves as a preceptor or mentor to anadvanced practice registered nurse pursuant to sections 12-240-108 and 12-255-112 (4) shall have a license in good standing without disciplinary sanctions to practice medicine in Colorado and an unrestricted registration by the federal drug enforcement administration for the same schedules as the collaborating advanced practice registered nurse.
It is unlawful and a violation of this article 240 for any person, corporation, or otherentity to require payment or employment as a condition of entering into a mentorship relationship with the advanced practice nurse pursuant to sections 12-240-108 and 12-255-112 (4), but the mentor may request reimbursement of reasonable expenses and time spent as a result of the mentorship relationship.
(t) (I) The provision, to a treating physician licensed in this state, of the results of laboratory tests, excluding histopathology tests and cytology tests, performed in a laboratory certified under the federal "Clinical Laboratories Improvement Act of 1967", as amended, 42 U.S.C. sec. 263a, to perform high complexity testing, as the term is used in 42 CFR 493.1701 and any related or successor provision;
(II) The provision, to a pathologist licensed in this state, of the results of histopathology tests and cytology tests performed in a laboratory certified under the federal "Clinical Laboratories Improvement Act of 1967", as amended, 42 U.S.C. sec. 263a, to perform high complexity testing, as the term is used in 42 CFR 493.1701 and any related or successor provision;
The rendering of services by any person serving an approved internship, residency,or fellowship as defined by this article 240 for an aggregate period not to exceed sixty days;
A physician lawfully practicing medicine in another state or territory providing medical services to athletes or team personnel registered to train at the United States Olympic training center at Colorado Springs or providing medical services at an event in this state sanctioned by the United States Olympic Committee. The physician's medical practice shall be contingent upon the requirements and approvals of the United States Olympic Committee and shall not exceed ninety days per calendar year.
The rendering of services by an emergency medical service provider certified orlicensed under section 25-3.5-203 if the services rendered are consistent with rules adopted under section 25-3.5-206 defining the duties and functions of emergency medical service providers;
Rendering complementary and alternative health care services consistent with section6-1-724;
Practicing as a medical director pursuant to the "Recognition of Emergency MedicalServices Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact Act", part 35 of article 60 of title 24, so long as the person is licensed in good standing in a state that has enacted and is a member of the compact.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit patient consultation between apracticing physician licensed in Colorado and a practicing physician licensed in another state or jurisdiction.
All licensees designated or referred to in subsection (3) of this section, who are licensed to practice a limited field of the healing arts, shall confine themselves strictly to the field for which they are licensed and to the scope of their respective licenses and shall not use any title, word, or abbreviation mentioned in subsection (1)(d) of this section, except to the extent and under the conditions expressly permitted by the law under which they are licensed.
(a) A person licensed under the laws of this state to practice medicine may delegate to a physician assistant licensed by the board pursuant to section 12-240-113 the authority to perform acts that constitute the practice of medicine and acts that physicians are authorized by law to perform to the extent and in the manner authorized by rules promulgated by the board, including the authority to prescribe medication, including controlled substances, and dispense only the drugs designated by the board. The acts must be consistent with sound medical practice. Each prescription for a controlled substance, as defined in section 18-18-102 (5), issued by a physician assistant licensed by the board shall be imprinted with the name of the physician assistant's supervising physician. For all other prescriptions issued by a physician assistant, the name and address of the health facility and, if the health facility is a multi-speciality organization, the name and address of the speciality clinic within the health facility where the physician assistant is practicing must be imprinted on the prescription. Nothing in this subsection (6) limits the ability of otherwise licensed health personnel to perform delegated acts. The dispensing of prescription medication by a physician assistant is subject to section 12-280-120 (6).
(b) (I) If the authority to perform an act is delegated pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section, the physician assistant to whom the act is delegated shall not perform the act except under the personal and responsible direction and supervision of a person licensed under the laws of this state to practice medicine. A licensed physician may be responsible for the direction and supervision of up to eight physician assistants at any one time. A licensed physician shall not be made responsible for the direction and supervision of more than four physician assistants unless the licensed physician agrees to assume the responsibility. A licensed physician has sole discretion to assume or refuse such responsibility, and an employer shall not require a licensed physician to assume such responsibility as a condition of employment. The board, by rule, may define what constitutes appropriate direction and supervision of a physician assistant; except that the board shall not promulgate a rule that is inconsistent with section 12-240-114.5.
(II) For purposes of this subsection (6), "personal and responsible direction and supervision" means that the direction and supervision of a physician assistant is personally rendered by a licensed physician practicing in the state of Colorado and is not rendered through intermediaries. The extent of direction and supervision shall be determined by rules promulgated by the board and as otherwise provided in this subsection (6)(b); except that, when a physician assistant is performing a delegated medical function in an acute care hospital, the board shall allow supervision and direction to be performed without the physical presence of the physician during the time the delegated medical functions are being implemented if:
The medical functions are performed where the supervising physician regularly practices or in a designated health manpower shortage area;
The licensed supervising physician reviews the quality of medical services renderedby the physician assistant by reviewing the medical records to assure compliance with the physicians' directions; and
The performance of the delegated medical function otherwise complies with the board's rules and any restrictions and protocols of the licensed supervising physician and hospital.
Pursuant to section 12-240-135 (7), the board may apply for an injunction to enjoinany person from performing delegated medical acts that are in violation of this section or of any rules promulgated by the board.
This subsection (6) shall not apply to any person who performs delegated medicaltasks within the scope of the exemption contained in subsection (3)(l) of this section.
(7) (a) A physician licensed in this state that practices as an anesthesiologist may delegate tasks constituting the practice of medicine to an anesthesiologist assistant licensed pursuant to section 12-240-112 who has been educated and trained in accordance with rules promulgated by the board. The delegated medical tasks referred to in this subsection (7)(a) are limited to the medical functions that constitute the delivery or provision of anesthesia services as practiced by the supervising physician.
An anesthesiologist assistant shall perform delegated medical tasks only under thedirect supervision of a physician who practices as an anesthesiologist. A patient or the patient's representative shall be advised if an anesthesiologist assistant is involved in the care of a patient. Unless approved by the board, a supervising physician shall not concurrently supervise more than three anesthesiologist assistants; except that the board may, by rule, allow an anesthesiologist to supervise up to four anesthesiologist assistants on and after July 1, 2016. The board may consider information from anesthesiologists, anesthesiologist assistants, patients, and other sources when considering a ratio change of supervision of anesthesiologist assistants. Direct supervision of anesthesiologist assistants may be transferred between anesthesiologists of the same group or practice in accordance with generally accepted standards of care.
Nothing in this subsection (7) affects the practice of dentists and dental assistantspracticing pursuant to article 220 of this title 12.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1175, § 1, effective October 1; (3)(w) amended, (SB 19-242), ch. 396, p. 3532, § 27, effective October 1; (6)(b)(I) amended, (HB 19-1095), ch. 411, p. 3621, § 6, effective October 1. L. 2020: (3)(s)(II) amended, (HB 20-1402), ch. 216, p. 1044, § 20, effective June 30; (1)(f)(I) amended, (HB 201183), ch. 157, p. 699, § 46, effective July 1.
Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former § 12-36-106 as it existed prior to 2019.
(2) (a) Before its relocation in 2019, this section was amended in SB 19-242. Those amendments were superseded by the repeal and reenactment of this title 12, effective October 1, 2019. For those amendments to the former section in effect from May 31, 2019, to October 1, 2019, see SB 19-242, chapter 396, Session Laws of Colorado 2019.
(b) Before its relocation in 2019, this section was amended in HB 19-1095. Those amendments were superseded by the repeal and reenactment of this title 12, effective October 1, 2019. For those amendments to the former section in effect from August 2, 2019, to October 1, 2019, see HB 19-1095, chapter 411, Session Laws of Colorado 2019.