Alaska healthcare advertising rules the checker applies

Rules for Alaska

1. CG-AKS-001 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Alaska lets the State Medical Board sanction a licensee who advertised professional services in a false or misleading manner, and the Unfair Trade Practices Act bars representing that services have benefits or characteristics they do not have. Absolute outcome and safety promises are the standard example.

   Source: AS 08.64.326(a)(3) ("advertised professional services in a false or misleading manner"); AS 45.50.471(b)(4) ("representing that goods or services have sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities that they do not have")

   Safer wording: Describe what the service involves and what patients have typically experienced, with a source. Do not promise a result or a lack of risk or side effects.

   AS 08.64.326, AS 45.50.471 · Needs counsel review

2. CG-AKS-002 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Alaska lets the State Medical Board sanction a licensee who advertised professional services in a false or misleading manner, or engaged in deceit or intentional misrepresentation while providing services. Cure and miracle claims are the standard example of a misleading health ad.

   Source: AS 08.64.326(a)(3) ("advertised professional services in a false or misleading manner"); AS 08.64.326(a)(2) ("engaged in deceit, fraud, or intentional misrepresentation while providing professional services")

   Safer wording: Describe the treatment and the results patients have typically seen, with a source, and say results vary. Do not promise a cure.

   AS 08.64.326 · Needs counsel review

3. CG-AKS-003 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Alaska lets the State Medical Board sanction a licensee who advertised professional services in a false or misleading manner, and the Unfair Trade Practices Act bars representing that services are of a particular standard, quality or grade when they are of another. Unqualified superiority claims cannot be verified.

   Source: AS 08.64.326(a)(3) ("advertised professional services in a false or misleading manner"); AS 45.50.471(b)(6) ("representing that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade")

   Safer wording: State verifiable facts such as training, certifications and years in practice. Do not rank the practice or practitioner against others unless you can substantiate the ranking and name its source.

   AS 08.64.326, AS 45.50.471 · Needs counsel review

4. CG-AKS-004 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Alaska's Unfair Trade Practices Act makes it an unfair or deceptive act to make false or misleading statements of fact about the reasons for, existence of or amounts of price reductions.

   Source: AS 45.50.471(b)(10) ("making false or misleading statements of fact concerning the reasons for, existence of, or amounts of price reductions")

   Safer wording: Only advertise a reduction if the earlier price was genuinely charged, state the dates the offer runs, and honor the advertised price.

   AS 45.50.471 · Needs counsel review

5. CG-AKS-005 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Alaska's Unfair Trade Practices Act makes it an unfair or deceptive act to cause a likelihood of confusion or misunderstanding as to the sponsorship or approval of services, or to represent that a person has an approval, status or affiliation the person does not have.

   Source: AS 45.50.471(b)(3) ("causing a likelihood of confusion or misunderstanding as to the source, sponsorship, or approval")

   Safer wording: Claim government or professional-body approval or endorsement only if it exists, and say exactly what was approved (for example a specific drug or device) rather than the service or practice.

   AS 45.50.471 · Needs counsel review