A. As used in this section:

1. "Agent" means any person who acts for another at the request or with the knowledge of the other in dealing with third persons;

2. "Medical care provider" means any person licensed in Oklahoma as a medical doctor, a chiropractor, a podiatrist, a dentist, an osteopathic physician or an optometrist or a hospital; and

3. "Runner", "capper", and "steerer" mean any person acting within this state for compensation as an agent for a medical care provider in the solicitation of a person to employ the medical care provider to provide medical services.

B. No medical care provider shall, by means of an agent, runner, capper, steerer, or other person who is not a medical care provider, solicit or procure a person to employ the medical care provider to provide medical services under the workers' compensation laws of this state.

C. No medical care provider shall, directly or indirectly, pay or promise to pay any person, other than another medical care provider, any money, service, fee, commission, or other thing of value in consideration for the employment of the medical care provider to provide medical services under the workers' compensation laws of this state.

D. No person shall act or agree to act as an agent, runner, capper, or steerer for a medical care provider.

E. Subsections B and C of this section shall not prohibit participation by a medical care provider in a voluntary medical care provider referral program including, but not limited to, referral programs operated by an association of medical care providers.

F. Any contract for employment of a medical care provider secured in violation of this section shall be void and unenforceable and no medical care provider shall provide medical services in violation of this section.

G. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine of up to Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) for each offense, which shall not be subject to Section 101 of Title 85 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Penalties imposed pursuant to this section shall be in addition to any penalties which might be imposed by the professional licensing organization for the medical care provider or similar organization of another state or by a court when punishing for contempt or when imposing sanctions against a medical care provider or party.

Added by Laws 1994, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 1, § 48, emerg. eff. Nov. 4, 1994.