{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-502.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-502.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-502.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-502.html"}],"law_id":54728,"edition_id":1,"section_id":54728,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-502","catch_line":"Medical referral for profit","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-417.2; 1972, c. 642; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1986, c. 632.","full_text":"a\n\nNo person, firm, partnership, association or corporation, or agent or employee thereof, shall for profit engage in any business which in whole or in part includes the referral or recommendation of persons to a physician, hospital, health related facility, or dispensary for any form of medical care or treatment of any ailment or physical condition unless the person is advised of the criteria of selection of the physicians, hospitals, health-related facilities or dispensaries considered for the referral or recommendation. The acceptance of a fee or charge for any such referral or recommendation shall create a presumption that the business is engaged in such service for profit. A violation of the provisions of this section shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.b\n\nWhenever there is a violation of this section, in addition to the criminal sanctions, an application may be made by the Attorney General to the circuit court of the city or county in which the offense occurred, to issue an injunction, and upon notice to the defendant of not less than five days, to enjoin and restrain the continuance of such violation. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court or judge that the defendant has, in fact, violated this section, an injunction may be issued by such court or judge enjoining and restraining any further violation, without requiring proof that any person has, in fact, been injured or damaged thereby. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit, prohibit, forbid or prevent any licensed physician or practitioner of the healing arts in the ordinary course of his professional practice from making referrals or recommendations to other members of such groups, so long as no fee is received for such referral or recommendation.\n\t\t\tThe criminal and civil provisions of this section shall not apply to any individual association or corporation not organized or incorporated for pecuniary profit or financial gain, or to any organization or association which is exempt from taxation pursuant to § 501(c) of Title 26 of the United States Code (Int. Rev. Code of 1954).c\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any division of fees prohibited by § 54.1-2962 or any remuneration for referral prohibited by federal law or regulation.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":200925,"text":"No person, firm, partnership, association or corporation, or agent or employee thereof, shall for profit engage in any business which in whole or in part includes the referral or recommendation of persons to a physician, hospital, health related facility, or dispensary for any form of medical care or treatment of any ailment or physical condition unless the person is advised of the criteria of selection of the physicians, hospitals, health-related facilities or dispensaries considered for the referral or recommendation. The acceptance of a fee or charge for any such referral or recommendation shall create a presumption that the business is engaged in such service for profit. A violation of the provisions of this section shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["a"],"prefix":"a","entire_prefix":"a","prefix_anchor":"a","level":1,"next_prefix":"b"},"1":{"id":200926,"text":"Whenever there is a violation of this section, in addition to the criminal sanctions, an application may be made by the Attorney General to the circuit court of the city or county in which the offense occurred, to issue an injunction, and upon notice to the defendant of not less than five days, to enjoin and restrain the continuance of such violation. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court or judge that the defendant has, in fact, violated this section, an injunction may be issued by such court or judge enjoining and restraining any further violation, without requiring proof that any person has, in fact, been injured or damaged thereby. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit, prohibit, forbid or prevent any licensed physician or practitioner of the healing arts in the ordinary course of his professional practice from making referrals or recommendations to other members of such groups, so long as no fee is received for such referral or recommendation.\n\t\t\tThe criminal and civil provisions of this section shall not apply to any individual association or corporation not organized or incorporated for pecuniary profit or financial gain, or to any organization or association which is exempt from taxation pursuant to § 501(c) of Title 26 of the United States Code (Int. Rev. Code of 1954).","type":"section","prefixes":["b"],"prefix":"b","entire_prefix":"b","prefix_anchor":"b","level":1,"prior_prefix":"a","next_prefix":"c"},"2":{"id":200927,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any division of fees prohibited by § 54.1-2962 or any remuneration for referral prohibited by federal law or regulation.","type":"section","prefixes":["c"],"prefix":"c","entire_prefix":"c","prefix_anchor":"c","level":1,"prior_prefix":"b"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13150,"edition_id":1,"name":"Miscellaneous Offenses in General","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13149,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:21","permalink":{"id":164619,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13150,"identifier":"3","token":"18.2\/12\/3","url":"\/18.2\/12\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13149,"edition_id":1,"name":"Miscellaneous","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:21","permalink":{"id":164555,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13149,"identifier":"12","token":"18.2\/12","url":"\/18.2\/12\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":54728,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-502","catch_line":"Medical referral for profit","url":"\/18.2-502\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-502","metadata":false},{"id":81823,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-502.1","catch_line":"Weight loss centers or clinics; disclosure","url":"\/18.2-502.1\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-502.1","metadata":false},{"id":66556,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-502.2","catch_line":"Warning required for certain medical tests; penalty","url":"\/18.2-502.2\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-502.2","metadata":false},{"id":70923,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-503","catch_line":"Possession or duplication of certain keys","url":"\/18.2-503\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-503","metadata":false},{"id":66354,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-504","catch_line":"Destroying or concealing wills","url":"\/18.2-504\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-504","metadata":false},{"id":82290,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-504.1","catch_line":"Unlawful change of name; punishment","url":"\/18.2-504.1\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-504.1","metadata":false},{"id":55081,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-505","catch_line":"Preparation, etc., of papers to be submitted for academic credit","url":"\/18.2-505\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-505","metadata":false},{"id":85942,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-506","catch_line":"\"Person\" and \"prepare\" defined","url":"\/18.2-506\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-506","metadata":false},{"id":69475,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-507","catch_line":"Injunctions against violation of \u00a7 18.2-505","url":"\/18.2-507\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-507","metadata":false},{"id":83067,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-508","catch_line":"Penalties","url":"\/18.2-508\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-508","metadata":false},{"id":72756,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-509","catch_line":"Employment of lights under certain circumstances","url":"\/18.2-509\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-509","metadata":false},{"id":54173,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-510","catch_line":"Burial or cremation of animals or fowls which have died","url":"\/18.2-510\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-510","metadata":false},{"id":61608,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-511","catch_line":"Sale of certain military grave markers prohibited","url":"\/18.2-511\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-511","metadata":false},{"id":70333,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-511.1","catch_line":"Smoking in proximity to a medical oxygen source in a health care facility; penalty","url":"\/18.2-511.1\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-511.1","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":81823,"structure_id":13150,"section_number":"18.2-502.1","catch_line":"Weight loss centers or clinics; disclosure","url":"\/18.2-502.1\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-502.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-502\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1972, chapter 642; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1986, chapter 632.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":57243,"section_number":"54.1-2962","catch_line":"Division of fees among physicians prohibited","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2962\/"}],"permalink":{"id":164621,"object_type":"law","relational_id":54728,"identifier":"18.2-502","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-502","url":"\/18.2-502\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-502\/","token":"18.2\/12\/3\/18.2-502","dublin_core":{"Title":"Medical referral for profit","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-502","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

a.<\/span> No person, firm, partnership, association or corporation, or agent or employee thereof, shall for profit engage in any business which in whole or in part includes the referral or recommendation of persons to a physician, hospital, health related facility, or dispensary for any form of medical care or treatment of any ailment or physical condition unless the person is advised of the criteria of selection of the physicians, hospitals, health-related facilities or dispensaries considered for the referral or recommendation. The acceptance of a fee or charge for any such referral or recommendation shall create a presumption<\/span> that the business is engaged in such service for profit. A violation of the provisions of this section shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

b.<\/span> Whenever there is a violation of this section, in addition to the criminal sanctions<\/span>, an application may be made by the Attorney General<\/span> to the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the city or county in which the offense<\/span> occurred, to issue<\/span> an injunction<\/span>, and upon notice to the defendant<\/span> of not less than five days, to enjoin and restrain the continuance<\/span> of such violation. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court<\/span> or judge<\/span> that the defendant<\/span> has, in fact<\/span>, violated this section, an injunction<\/span> may be issued by such court<\/span> or judge<\/span> enjoining and restraining any further violation, without requiring proof that any person has, in fact<\/span>, been injured or damaged thereby. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit, prohibit, forbid or prevent any licensed physician or practitioner of the healing arts in the ordinary course of his professional practice from making referrals or recommendations to other members of such groups, so long as no fee is received for such referral or recommendation.\n\t\t\tThe criminal and civil provisions of this section shall not apply to any individual association or corporation not organized or incorporated for pecuniary profit or financial gain, or to any organization or association which is exempt from taxation pursuant to § 501(c) of Title 26 of the United States Code (Int. Rev. Code of 1954). <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

c.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any division of fees prohibited by § 54.1-2962<\/a> or any remuneration for referral prohibited by federal law<\/span> or regulation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMEDICAL REFERRAL FOR PROFIT (\u00a7 18.2-502)\n\na. No person, firm, partnership, association or corporation, or agent or\nemployee thereof, shall for profit engage in any business which in whole or in\npart includes the referral or recommendation of persons to a physician,\nhospital, health related facility, or dispensary for any form of medical care or\ntreatment of any ailment or physical condition unless the person is advised of\nthe criteria of selection of the physicians, hospitals, health-related\nfacilities or dispensaries considered for the referral or recommendation. The\nacceptance of a fee or charge for any such referral or recommendation shall\ncreate a presumption that the business is engaged in such service for profit. A\nviolation of the provisions of this section shall be punishable as a Class 1\nmisdemeanor.\n\nb. Whenever there is a violation of this section, in addition to the criminal\nsanctions, an application may be made by the Attorney General to the circuit\ncourt of the city or county in which the offense occurred, to issue an\ninjunction, and upon notice to the defendant of not less than five days, to\nenjoin and restrain the continuance of such violation. If it appears to the\nsatisfaction of the court or judge that the defendant has, in fact, violated\nthis section, an injunction may be issued by such court or judge enjoining and\nrestraining any further violation, without requiring proof that any person has,\nin fact, been injured or damaged thereby. Nothing in this section shall be\nconstrued to limit, prohibit, forbid or prevent any licensed physician or\npractitioner of the healing arts in the ordinary course of his professional\npractice from making referrals or recommendations to other members of such\ngroups, so long as no fee is received for such referral or recommendation.\n\t\t\tThe criminal and civil provisions of this section shall not apply to any\nindividual association or corporation not organized or incorporated for\npecuniary profit or financial gain, or to any organization or association which\nis exempt from taxation pursuant to § 501(c) of Title 26 of the United\nStates Code (Int. Rev. Code of 1954).\n\nc. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any division of fees\nprohibited by § 54.1-2962 or any remuneration for referral prohibited by\nfederal law or regulation.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-417.2; 1972, c. 642; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1986, c. 632.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}