(225 ILCS 100/21) (from Ch. 111, par. 4821)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 21. Advertising.

(A) Any podiatric physician may advertise the availability of podiatric medical services in the public media or on the premises where such services are rendered. Such advertising shall be limited to the following information:

(a) the podiatric medical services available;

(b) publication of the podiatric physician's name, title, office hours, address and telephone;

(c) information pertaining to areas of practice specialization, including appropriate board certification as approved by the Board in accordance with the rules for the administration of this Act or limitation of professional practice;

(d) information on usual and customary fees for routine podiatric medical services offered, which information shall include notification that fees may be adjusted due to complications or unforeseen circumstances;

(e) announcement of the opening of, change of, absence from, or return to business;

(f) announcement of additions to or deletions from professional podiatric staff;

(g) the issuance of business or appointment cards;

(h) other information about the podiatric physician, podiatric practice or the types of podiatric services that the podiatric physician offers to perform that a reasonable person might regard as relevant in determining whether to seek the podiatric physician's services.

(B) It is unlawful for any podiatric physician licensed under this Act:

(1) to use claims of superior quality of care to entice the public;

(2) to advertise in any way to practice podiatric medicine without causing pain or deformity; or

(3) to advertise or offer gifts as an inducement to secure patient patronage. Podiatric physicians may advertise or offer free examinations or free podiatric medical services; it shall be unlawful, however, for any podiatric physician to charge a fee to any patient or any third party payor for any podiatric medical service provided at the time that such free examination or free podiatric medical services are provided.

(C) This Act does not authorize the advertising of podiatric medical services when the offeror of such services is not a podiatric physician. Nor shall the podiatric physician use statements that contain false, fraudulent, deceptive or misleading material or guarantees of success, statements that play upon the vanity or fears of the public, or statements that promote or produce unfair competition.

(D) A licensee shall include in every advertisement for services regulated under this Act his or her title as provided by rule or the initials authorized under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 95-235, eff. 8-17-07.)