Why Medical Practices Get Suspended on Google
Medical practices, healthcare providers, and wellness professionals face unique challenges on Google Business Profile due to Google's commitment to protecting users from potentially harmful or misleading health information. If your medical practice has been suspended, understanding the specific reasons helps you address issues and demonstrate compliance.
Common Suspension Reasons for Healthcare Providers
1. Ineligible Business Type
Some healthcare-related businesses don't qualify for Google Business Profiles because they don't provide direct in-person patient care or operate primarily online.
Common ineligible healthcare businesses:
- Telemedicine-only practices with no physical location where patients can visit
- Medical billing services
- Medical transcription services
- Health insurance brokers (primarily online or phone-based)
- Online supplement stores without physical storefronts
- Health coaches or wellness consultants operating entirely virtually
Google's reasoning: Google Business Profile is designed for businesses with physical locations or service areas where in-person interactions occur.
How to fix: If you have a legitimate medical office where patients visit for appointments, document it thoroughly. If you're purely telemedicine-based with no physical patient-care location, GBP may not be appropriate for your business model.
2. Unlicensed or Unverified Medical Practice
Google may suspend medical practice profiles if it cannot verify that the practitioners are properly licensed or if there are concerns about the legitimacy of the medical services offered.
The violation: You're operating a medical practice without proper state medical licensing, or Google cannot verify your credentials.
Google's reasoning: Google wants to protect users from unlicensed or fraudulent medical providers.
How to fix: Ensure all physicians, nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, and other medical professionals at your practice maintain active state licenses. Be prepared to provide:
- Medical license numbers for all providers
- DEA numbers (if applicable)
- State medical board verification
- Malpractice insurance documentation
3. Home-Based Medical Practice Concerns
Some medical professionals operate from home offices, particularly specialists who do consultations or second opinions. Google scrutinizes home-based medical practices more carefully than other home businesses.
The violation: Your medical practice is registered at a residential address without proper documentation proving it's a legitimate medical facility.
Google's reasoning: Google wants to ensure patient safety and that medical facilities meet appropriate standards.
How to fix: If you operate a legitimate home-based medical practice, provide:
- State medical board approval for your home office location
- Business license showing medical practice at your home address
- Professional liability/malpractice insurance listing the address
- Photos showing professional medical office setup (if appropriate)
- Utility bills and other location verification
Consider whether operating as a Service Area Business (SAB) with your address hidden might be more appropriate if patients don't routinely visit your home office.
4. Keywords or Credentials in Business Name
Many medical practices add specialties, credentials, or marketing language to their business name to improve search visibility.
Common violations:
- "Smith Medical Clinic - Board Certified Family Medicine"
- "Dr. Jones, MD, FACP - Internal Medicine Specialist"
- "ABC Urgent Care - Walk-Ins Welcome"
- "Best Dermatology Practice"
Google's reasoning: Business names should reflect your actual registered business name, not include credentials or marketing language.
How to fix: Use your practice's legal name exactly as registered with your state medical board and business registration. You can include specialties and credentials in your business description instead.
5. Multiple Listings for Same Practice
Some medical practices create separate profiles for different specialties or providers within the same location, violating Google's duplicate listing policies.
The violation: You have multiple profiles for the same practice at the same address (e.g., one for family medicine, one for pediatrics, separate ones for each doctor).
Google's reasoning: Each physical location should have one profile listing all services and providers.
How to fix: Consolidate into one practice profile listing all providers and specialties. If you have multiple locations, each can have its own profile, but maintain only one profile per physical address.
6. Inconsistent Information Across Healthcare Directories
Medical practices often appear on numerous healthcare-specific directories (Healthgrades, Zocdoc, Vitals, WebMD, etc.) with varying information. Inconsistencies trigger Google's verification processes.
The violation: Your practice name, address, phone number, or provider information varies across different online sources.
Google's reasoning: Consistent information helps patients contact practices accurately and helps Google verify legitimacy.
How to fix: Audit your information across all healthcare directories and update everything to match your GBP profile exactly.
Healthcare-Specific Challenges
HIPAA Compliance Concerns
Medical practices must be careful about what information they share publicly and how they respond to reviews while maintaining HIPAA compliance.
Best practice: Never share patient information in your responses to reviews. Keep your GBP profile information general and factual about your services without discussing specific patient cases.
Licensing Across Multiple States
Physicians licensed in multiple states may wonder whether to create profiles in each state.
Best practice: Only create GBP listings for locations where you physically see patients in person. Being licensed in a state doesn't automatically qualify you for a GBP listing there if you don't have a physical practice location.
Specialty Verification
Some medical specialties face additional scrutiny, particularly:
- Addiction treatment facilities
- Mental health services (must follow strict guidelines)
- Alternative medicine practices (acupuncture, naturopathy, etc.)
- Weight loss clinics
- Medical marijuana dispensaries (must follow location-specific regulations)
Best practice: Be especially diligent about documentation if you're in a specialty that faces heightened scrutiny. Clearly demonstrate your licensing and compliance with medical board regulations.
Documentation Needed for Medical Practice Reinstatement
When appealing a medical practice suspension, gather comprehensive documentation:
Medical Licensing:
- Current medical licenses for all providers (physicians, NPs, PAs)
- Board certification (if applicable)
- DEA registration (if applicable)
- State medical board verification showing good standing
Business Documentation:
- Medical practice business license
- Articles of incorporation or LLC formation documents
- Professional liability/malpractice insurance
- CLIA certification (if you perform lab work)
- Other relevant certifications or accreditations
Physical Location Proof:
- Office lease or property deed
- Utility bills (in practice name) at office address
- Photos of office exterior with practice signage
- Photos of office interior showing medical facility
- Waiting room, examination rooms, medical equipment (as appropriate)
Verification of Services:
- Examples of patient intake forms (with patient info removed)
- Appointment scheduling system documentation
- Medical records software (EHR/EMR) documentation
- Prescription pads or e-prescribing credentials
How to Appeal Medical Practice Suspensions
Step 1: Identify Specific Violations
Common issues for medical practices:
- Is your practice type eligible for GBP?
- Are all providers properly licensed and verifiable?
- Is your business address legitimate and properly documented?
- Does your business name include keywords or credentials?
- Do you have duplicate listings?
- Is your information consistent across healthcare directories?
Step 2: Correct All Violations
Fix every issue before appealing:
- Change business name to legal registered name only
- Remove duplicate listings
- Update information consistently everywhere online
- Gather all licensing and location documentation
Step 3: Write Your Appeal
Be clear, professional, and medical-board-appropriate:
Example appeal: "My medical practice profile was suspended. I believe this occurred because our business name included my medical credentials. I have updated the business name to our legal practice name: [Practice Name]. I have attached documentation verifying our practice including: my current medical license showing active status, our practice's business license, our office lease, utility bills, and professional liability insurance. Our practice has served patients at this location for [X years] and maintains full compliance with state medical board requirements. All providers maintain active medical licenses and DEA registration. Please review our documentation and reinstate our profile."
Step 4: Submit Comprehensive Documentation
Include everything that proves your practice is legitimate:
- All provider medical licenses
- Business license and registration
- Proof of physical location
- Insurance documentation
- State medical board verification
Step 5: Be Patient and Professional
Medical practice appeals may take longer than other businesses due to the sensitive nature of healthcare. Google may take 5-14 days to review medical practice appeals. Follow up professionally if you haven't heard back after two weeks.
Common Mistakes Medical Practices Make
1. Incomplete Licensing Information
Many medical practices submit appeals without including all provider licenses or verification of good standing with the state medical board.
Solution: Include licenses for every provider listed on your profile and verification that each license is active and in good standing.
2. Ignoring Healthcare Directory Inconsistencies
Medical practices often have profiles on 10+ healthcare-specific sites with varying information from different time periods.
Solution: Before appealing, systematically update your information on Healthgrades, Zocdoc, Vitals, WebMD, RateMDs, and other major healthcare directories.
3. Including Too Much Medical Detail
Some physicians write lengthy appeals explaining their medical credentials, specialties, and treatment approaches in excessive detail.
Solution: Keep your appeal focused on addressing the specific violation and providing verification documents. Save detailed medical information for your practice website.
4. Creating New Profiles
After suspension, some practices try to create new profiles under slightly different names or addresses. This typically results in immediate suspension.
Solution: Always appeal your original profile rather than attempting to circumvent the suspension.
Preventing Future Suspensions
Keep Licensing Current
Renew all medical licenses, DEA registration, and other credentials on time. Update your GBP profile if provider information changes.
Maintain One Profile Per Location
If you have multiple office locations, each can have its own profile. But keep only one profile per physical address.
Monitor Information Consistency
Regularly audit your practice information across all online directories and ensure consistency.
Document Everything
Keep current documentation readily accessible:
- Medical licenses for all providers
- Business licenses and registrations
- Lease or utility bills
- Malpractice insurance
- Any relevant certifications or accreditations
Respond to Reviews Professionally
Respond to patient reviews professionally while maintaining HIPAA compliance. Never discuss specific patient care or disclose any protected health information.
When to Get Professional Help
Medical practice suspensions can be complex due to licensing requirements, healthcare regulations, and Google's heightened scrutiny of medical businesses.
Consider professional help when:
- Multiple appeal denials
- Complex multi-provider or multi-location practice
- Uncertainty about eligible business types
- Need urgent reinstatement to maintain patient access
Our team understands the unique compliance requirements for medical practices and can guide you through reinstatement while ensuring HIPAA compliance and medical board adherence.