What are the rules on advertising of healthcare services?

In California, advertising of healthcare services must comply with both federal and state laws. Under federal law, healthcare providers must provide accurate information that is easily visible to consumers. False or misleading statements, as well as statements that suggest deceptive or unfair business practices, are strictly prohibited. California has additional rules that govern healthcare advertising in the state. Most notably, providers must include the name and license number of the healthcare provider in any advertising materials. Furthermore, ads must include the provider’s address and phone number. In addition, healthcare providers must clearly identify whether or not they accept payment from public programs such as Medicare and Medi-Cal. Healthcare providers must also be cautious in using language in their advertising to ensure that they are not making false or misleading claims. For instance, the use of the word “free” in any advertisement must be clearly defined and limited to only those services that are truly free from charge. Furthermore, the use of superlatives such as “best” or “most” must be supported with reliable and verifiable evidence. Finally, healthcare providers must adhere to any applicable professional standards or codes of conduct of their respective professional industries. These standards provide additional guidance on topics such as advertising to the elderly, advertising prescription drugs, and advertising to children and minors.

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