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201 KAR 43:040. Code of ethical standards and standards of practice


Published: 2015

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      201

KAR 43:040. Code of ethical standards and standards of practice.

 

      RELATES

TO: KRS 319C.060(1), (2)(c)

      STATUTORY

AUTHORITY: KRS 319C.060(2)(c)

      NECESSITY,

FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 319C.060(2)(c) requires the board to adopt a code

of ethical standards and standards of practice for all licensed behavior analysts,

assistant behavior analysts, and temporary licensees. This administrative

regulation establishes the code of ethical standards and standards of practice

for licensees.

 

      Section

1. Definitions. (1) "Behavior analyst" means a person was licensed

under KRS Chapter 319C as a licensed behavior analyst, a licensed assistant

behavior analyst, or a temporary licensee.

      (2)

"Client" means a person who meets the requirements established in

Section 2 of this administrative regulation.

      (3)

"Confidential information" means information revealed by a client or

clients or otherwise obtained by a behavior analyst in a professional

relationship.

      (4)

"Court order" means the written or oral communication of a member of

the judiciary, or other court magistrate or administrator, if the authority has

been lawfully delegated to the magistrate or administrator.

      (5)

"Professional relationship" means a mutually agreed upon relationship

between a behavior analyst and a client for the purpose of the client obtaining

the behavior analyst's professional expertise.

      (6)

"Professional service" means all actions of the behavior analyst in

the context of a professional relationship with a client.

      (7)

"Supervisee" means a person who functions under the extended

authority of the behavior analyst to provide behavioral services.

 

      Section

2. Client Requirements. (1) Identification of a client. A client shall be a

person who receives:

      (a)

An evaluation, assessment, or professional services;

      (b)

Other professional services for the purpose of practicing applied behavior

analysis or applied behavior analysis interventions; or

      (c)

Consultation regarding applied behavior analysis or applied behavior analysis

interventions in the context of a professional relationship.

      (2)

A corporate entity or other organization shall be considered the client if the

professional contract is to provide a professional service of benefit to the

corporate entity or organization.

      (3)

A legal guardian of a minor or legally incompetent adult shall be considered

the client for a decision-making purpose.

      (4)

A person identified as a client pursuant to subsections (1) to (3) of this

section shall be deemed to continue to be a client for a period of two (2) years

following the last date of service rendered to the person.

 

      Section

3. Competence. (1) Limits on practice. The behavior analyst shall limit

practice and supervision to the areas of competence in which proficiency has

been gained through education, training, and experience.

      (2)

Maintaining competency. The behavior analyst shall maintain current competency

in the areas in which he or she practices, through continuing education,

consultation, or other procedures, in conformance with current standards of

scientific and professional knowledge.

      (3)

Adding new services and techniques. The behavior analyst, if developing

competency in a service or technique that is new either to the behavior analyst

or new to the profession, shall engage in ongoing consultation with other

behavior analysts or relevant professionals and shall obtain appropriate

education and training. The behavior analyst shall inform a client of the

innovative nature and the known risks associated with the service, so that the

client can exercise freedom of choice concerning the service.

      (4)

Referral. The behavior analyst shall make or recommend a referral to other

professional, technical, or administrative resources if a referral is clearly

in the best interests of the client.

      (5)

Sufficient professional information. A behavior analyst rendering a formal

professional opinion in a report, letter, or testimony about a person shall not

do so without direct and substantial professional contact with or a formal

assessment of that person.

      (6)

Maintenance and retention of records.

      (a)

The behavior analyst rendering professional services to an individual client,

or services billed to a third-party payor, shall maintain professional records

that include:

      1.

The presenting problem, purpose, or diagnosis from another mental health

professional;

      2.

The fee arrangement;

      3.

The date and substance of each professional contact or service;

      4.

Test results or other evaluative results obtained and the basic test data from

which the results were derived;

      5.

Notation and results of a formal consult with another provider; and

      6.

A copy of all test or other evaluative reports prepared as part of the

professional relationship.

      (b)

The behavior analyst shall ensure that all records are maintained for a period

of not less than six (6) years after the last date that services were rendered.

      (c)

The behavior analyst shall store and dispose of written, electronic and other

records in a manner which shall ensure their confidentiality.

      (d)

For each person supervised pursuant to KRS Chapter 319C, the behavior analyst

shall maintain for a period of not less than six (6) years after the last date

of supervision a record of each supervisory session that shall include the

type, place, date, and general content of the session.

      (7)

Continuity of care. The behavior analyst shall make arrangements for another

appropriate professional or professionals to provide for an emergency need of a

client, as appropriate, during a period of his or her foreseeable absence from

professional availability.

 

      Section

4. Impaired Objectivity and Dual Relationships. (1) Impaired behavior analyst.

      (a)

The behavior analyst shall not undertake or continue a professional

relationship with a client if the objectivity or competency of the behavior analyst

is impaired due to a mental, emotional, physiologic, pharmacologic, or

substance abuse condition.

      (b)

If an impairment develops after a professional relationship has been initiated,

the behavior analyst shall:

      1.

Terminate the relationship in an appropriate manner;

      2.

Notify the client in writing of the termination; and

      3.

Assist the client in obtaining services from another professional.

      (2)

Prohibited dual relationships.

      (a)

The behavior analyst shall not undertake or continue a professional

relationship with a client, or the client’s parent or legal guardian, if the

objectivity or competency of the behavior analyst is impaired because of the

behavior analyst's present or previous familial, social, sexual, emotional,

financial, supervisory, administrative, or legal relationship with the client

or a relevant person associated with or related to the client.

      (b)

The behavior analyst, in interacting with a client, or the client’s parent or

legal guardian, shall not:

      1.

Engage in verbal or physical behavior toward the client, or the client’s parent

or legal guardian, which is sexually seductive, demeaning, or harassing;

      2.

Engage in sexual intercourse or other physical intimacy with the client or the

client’s parent or legal guardian; or

      3.

Enter into a potentially exploitative relationship with the client, or the

client’s parent or legal guardian.

      (c)

The prohibitions established in paragraph (b) of this subsection shall extend

indefinitely if the client is clearly vulnerable, by reason of emotional or

cognitive disorder, to exploitative influence by the behavior analyst.

 

      Section

5. Client Welfare. (1) Providing explanation of procedures. The behavior

analyst shall give a truthful, understandable, and appropriate account of the

client's condition to the client or to those responsible for the care of the

client. The behavior analyst shall keep the client fully informed as to the

purpose and nature of an evaluation, treatment, or other procedure, and of the

client's right to freedom of choice regarding services provided.

      (2)

Termination of services.

      (a)

If professional services are terminated, the behavior analyst shall offer to

assist the client in obtaining services from another professional.

      (b)

The behavior analyst shall:

      1.

Terminate a professional relationship if the client is not benefiting from the

services; and

      2.

Prepare the client appropriately for the termination.

      (3)

Stereotyping. The behavior analyst shall not impose on the client a stereotype

of behavior, values, or roles related to age, gender, religion, race,

disability, nationality, sexual preference, or diagnosis which would interfere

with the objective provision of professional services to the client.

      (4)

Solicitation of business by clients. The behavior analyst providing services to

an individual client shall not induce that client, or the client’s parent or

legal guardian, to solicit business on behalf of the behavior analyst.

      (5)

Referrals on request. The behavior analyst providing services to a client shall

make an appropriate referral of the client to another professional if requested

to do so by the client.

 

      Section

6. Welfare of Supervisees and Research Subjects. (1) Welfare of supervisees.

The behavior analyst shall not exploit a supervisee.

      (2)

Welfare of research subjects. The behavior analyst shall respect the dignity

and protect the welfare of his or her research subjects, and shall comply with

all relevant statutes and administrative regulations concerning treatment of

research subjects.

 

      Section

7. Protecting the Confidentiality of Clients. (1) General. The behavior analyst

shall safeguard the confidential information obtained in the course of

practice, teaching, research, or other professional services. Except as

provided in this section, the behavior analyst shall obtain the informed

written consent of the client prior to disclosing confidential information.

      (2)

Disclosure without informed written consent. The behavior analyst shall

disclose confidential information without the informed consent of the client if

the behavior analyst has a duty to warn an intended victim of the client's

threat of violence pursuant to KRS 202A.400 or 645.270.

      (3)

Disclosure if the client is a corporation or other organization. If the client

is a corporation or other organization, the requirements for confidentiality

established in this section shall:

      (a)

Apply to information that pertains to:

      1.

The corporation or organization; or

      2.

An individual, including personal information, if the information is obtained

in the proper course of the contract; and

      (b)

Not apply to personal information concerning an individual if the individual

had a reasonable expectation that the information was:

      1.

Obtained in a separate professional relationship between the behavior analyst

and the individual; and

      2.

Subject to the confidentiality requirements established in this section.

      (4)

Services involving more than one (1) interested party. If more than one (1)

party has an appropriate interest in the professional services rendered by the

behavior analyst to a client or clients, the behavior analyst shall clarify to

all parties prior to rendering the services the dimensions of confidentiality

and professional responsibility that shall pertain in the rendering of

services.

      (5)

Multiple clients. If service is rendered to more than one (1) client during a

joint session, the behavior analyst shall, at the beginning of the professional

relationship, clarify to all parties the manner in which confidentiality shall

be handled.

      (6)

Legally dependent clients. At the beginning of a professional relationship, the

behavior analyst shall inform a client who is below the age of majority or who

has a legal guardian of the limit the law imposes on the right of

confidentiality with respect to his or her communications with the behavior analyst.

      (7)

Limited access to client records. The behavior analyst shall limit access to

client records to preserve their confidentiality and shall ensure that all

persons working under the behavior analyst's authority comply with the

requirements for confidentiality of client material.

      (8)

Release of confidential information. The behavior analyst shall release

confidential information upon court order or to conform with state law,

including KRS 422.317, or federal law or regulation.

      (9)

Reporting of abuse of children and vulnerable adults. The behavior analyst

shall be familiar with the relevant law concerning the reporting of abuse of

children and vulnerable adults, and shall comply with those laws, including KRS

620.030.

      (10)

Discussion of client information among professionals. If rendering professional

services as part of a team or if interacting with other appropriate

professionals concerning the welfare of the client, the behavior analyst may

share confidential information about the client if the behavior analyst takes

reasonable steps to ensure that all persons receiving the information are

informed about the confidential nature of the information and abide by the

rules of confidentiality.

      (11)

Disguising confidential information. If case reports or other confidential

information is used as the basis of teaching, research, or other published

reports, the behavior analyst shall exercise reasonable care to ensure that the

reported material is appropriately disguised to prevent client identification.

      (12)

Observation and electronic recording. The behavior analyst shall ensure that

diagnostic interviews or therapeutic sessions with a client are observed or

electronically recorded only with the informed written consent of the client.

      (13)

Confidentiality after termination of professional relationship. The behavior

analyst shall continue to treat as confidential information regarding a client

after the professional relationship between the behavior analyst and the client

has ceased.

 

      Section

8. Representation of Services. (1) Display of credentials. The behavior analyst

shall display his or her current credential to practice on the premises of his

or her professional office.

      (2)

Misrepresentation of qualifications. The behavior analyst shall not

misrepresent directly or by implication his or her professional qualifications

such as education, experience, or areas of competence.

      (3)

Misrepresentation of affiliations. The behavior analyst shall not misrepresent

directly or by implication his or her affiliations, or the purposes or

characteristics of institutions and organizations with which the behavior

analyst is associated.

      (4)

False or misleading information. The behavior analyst shall not include false

or misleading information in a public statement concerning professional

services offered.

      (5)

Misrepresentation of services or products. The behavior analyst shall not

associate with or permit his or her name to be used in connection with a

service or product in a way which misrepresents:

      (a)

The service or product;

      (b)

The degree of his or her responsibility for the service or product; or

      (c)

The nature of his or her association with the service or product.

      (6)

Correction of misrepresentation by others. The behavior analyst shall correct

others who misrepresent the behavior analyst's professional qualifications or

affiliations.

 

      Section

9. Disclosure of Cost of Services. The behavior analyst shall not mislead or

withhold from a client, prospective client, or third party payor, information

about the cost of his or her professional services.

 

      Section

10. Assessment Procedures. (1) Confidential information. The behavior analyst

shall treat as confidential assessment results or interpretations regarding an

individual.

      (2)

Protection of integrity of assessment procedures. The behavior analyst shall

not disseminate a test in a way that may invalidate it.

      (3)

Information for professional users. The behavior analyst offering an assessment

procedure or automated interpretation service to another professional shall:

      (a)

Accompany this offering by a manual or other printed material which describes

the development of the assessment procedure or service, the rationale, evidence

of validity and reliability, and characteristics of the normative population;

      (b)

State the purpose and application for which the procedure is recommended and

identify special qualifications required to administer and interpret it properly;

and

      (c)

Ensure that advertisements for the assessment procedure or interpretive service

are factual.

 

      Section

11. Delegating professional responsibility. The behavior analyst shall not

delegate professional responsibilities to a person not appropriately

credentialed or otherwise appropriately qualified to provide professional

services. (37 Ky.R. 3035; 38 Ky.R. 901; eff. 12-2-11.)