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HB 2840

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2025 Regular Session Introduced by Elliott Pritt and 1 co-sponsor

Arizona HB 2840 tightens chiropractic discipline, banning fee-splitting and referral pay, bans practicing under others' names, and prohibits harassment, boosting protections.

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Bill Summary · HB 2840

Summary — HB 2840 (Doctor of Chiropractic; Unprofessional Conduct)

Status: Third Reading — Passed (54-0-0)
Introduced: February 14, 2025
Primary sponsor: Rep. Ralph Heap; cosponsors: Patty Contreras, Beverly Pingerelli, Sarah Liguori, Christopher Mathis

Note: The provided document contains an unrelated Illinois HB2840 excerpt about workers’ compensation fee schedules. The summary below focuses on the Arizona bill titled “doctor of chiropractic; unprofessional conduct” (amendment to A.R.S. §32-924), which is the primary text for HB 2840 in the materials provided.

Purpose / Intent

To amend A.R.S. §32-924 (grounds for disciplinary action by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners) by clarifying and expanding the list of acts that constitute unprofessional conduct and by reaffirming board investigatory and emergency authority. The changes aim to strengthen consumer protections, professional accountability, and clarity about permissible business practices for licensed chiropractors.

Key provisions and changes

  • Rewrites and restates many existing grounds for disciplinary action (fraud in securing a license; impersonation; malpractice; misleading advertising; billing fraud; sexual contact with patients; failure to use “D.C.” or appropriate chiropractic designations).
  • Adds or clarifies specific prohibitions, including:
    • Fee-splitting and referral compensation: Prohibits dividing professional fees or providing/receiving consideration for patient referrals between a doctor of chiropractic and other health professionals or businesses — except where fee division occurs among individuals/entities in a bona fide employment, partnership, or corporate relationship for delivery of professional services (new §A.29).
    • Practice name restrictions: Prohibits practicing under another licensed chiropractor’s name, any name other than the name on the chiropractor’s license, or any trade name/title/abbreviation that misrepresents chiropractic practice (§A.30).
    • Harassment/retaliation: Prohibits harassing, exploiting, or retaliating against patients, former patients, research subjects, supervisees, coworkers, witnesses or complainants involved in disciplinary proceedings (§A.31).
  • Retains and clarifies existing rules on:
    • Required board investigation on complaint or on the board’s motion; notice to licensee; immunity for good-faith reporters.
    • Board authority to require interviews and medical/mental exams (at licensee’s expense) for those under investigation.
    • Summary suspension when the board determines emergency action is necessary, with a written notice and entitlement to a formal hearing within 60 days.
    • Various advertising, billing, and solicitation restrictions (including a 15‑day vulnerability window for solicitation after accidents).

Who is affected

  • Licensed doctors of chiropractic in Arizona (primary).
  • The Arizona State Board of Chiropractic Examiners (enforcement/disciplinary obligations).
  • Patients and the public (consumer protections).
  • Other health professionals, clinics, and businesses that interact or contract with chiropractors (especially regarding referrals, employment and fee arrangements).
  • Third‑party payors and insurers (billing and advertising restrictions).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced Feb 14, 2025; recorded as read first Mar 19, 2025 (per legislative actions listed) and placed on consent calendar.
  • Passed third reading (vote 54-0-0). The provided materials do not specify an effective date; typically, effective date would be in the enrolled/passed version or state general effective date if not specified.

Observations / caveats

  • Many enumerated items restate existing disciplinary grounds; the most notable substantive additions are the explicit fee‑splitting/referral prohibition with a defined exception, the practice‑name prohibition, and the anti‑retaliation/harassment provision.
  • The supplied packet mixes text from a different jurisdiction’s HB2840 (Illinois, dealing with workers’ compensation fee schedules). That unrelated text is not part of the Arizona A.R.S. §32-924 amendment summarized here. If you want a summary of the Illinois material instead, indicate that and I will prepare it separately.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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