Final answer:
Clinical establishments (CE) are generally prohibited from making paid communications with patients, but there are exceptions. These exceptions include advertisements, fee-for-service charges, and financial or insurance-related communications.
Step-by-step explanation:
In general, a clinical establishment (CE) is prohibited from making paid communications with patients to protect the patient's well-being and prevent undue influence on healthcare decisions. However, there are some exceptions when a CE can make paid communications with the patient:
- Advertisements: A CE can engage in paid advertising to promote their services, as long as the advertising is truthful, not misleading, and adheres to ethical guidelines.
- Fee-for-Service: If a CE charges patients directly for certain services (e.g., cosmetic procedures), they can communicate the fees to the patients.
- Financial or Insurance-Related Communications: A CE can communicate payment terms or insurance coverage information to patients, including copayments, deductibles, and out-of-network charges.