Fictitious Name Permits • Negotiating Rates With Nonprofits • Registering a Second Office With the DEA

QUESTION: I'm not sure if I need to apply for a fictitious name permit. What are the guidelines?

ANSWER: According to the Medical Board of California, if you are a licensed physician practicing under a fictitious, false, or assumed name in any public communication, advertisement, sign, or announcement (for example, "Sunrise Medical Group"), then you should apply for a fictitious name permit. You do not need a fictitious name permit if you are using only your name or surname (last name) followed by Medical Doctor, MD, Medical Corporation, Medical Corp., Professional Corporation, Prof. Corp., Corporation, Corp., Incorporated, or Inc. For example, "John Doe Medical Corporation" or "John Doe, MD, Inc." would not require a fictitious name permit as long as "John Doe" matches the legal name on the physician's medical license.

QUESTION: I am in the process of renegotiating all of my contracts. I was told by Blue Cross and Blue Shield that they are nonprofits, and they do not negotiate rates. Is this true?

ANSWER: Blue Shield is a nonprofit health plan, so it is true that they do not negotiate rates. Blue Cross, on the other hand, is a for-profit health plan, and they should, in fact, negotiate contract rates with physicians.

QUESTION: I will be opening up an additional office where I will be prescribing controlled substances. Do I need to register my second office or get a second license with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)?

ANSWER: No. If you are only prescribing controlled substances, then you do not need to register your additional office. If, however, you are administering and/or dispensing and/or maintaining controlled substances, then each office must be registered with the DEA.