State Member Board Briefs

In April 2022, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed Act No. 2022-302 providing for the regulation of the practice of telemedicine in Alabama. The Act also repeals the “special purpose license” established by Ala. Code §§ 34-24-500 through 508.

The Special Purpose License to Practice Medicine Across State Lines (SP) will be abolished as of July 11, 2022. No new SP licenses may be issued nor existing SP licenses be renewed after this date. Any SP license active on July 11, 2022, will continue until its expiration date, at which time the license will not be renewable. SP licensees must obtain either a full license or a license via the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact license to continue to practice medicine in Alabama after the expiration of the SP license.

Source: Alabama State Medical Board of Medical Examiners and Medical Licensure Commission Medical Digest, Spring 2022

On June 8, 2022, the State Medical Board of Ohio voted to reject the petitions for autism spectrum disorder and opioid use disorder. These conditions will not be added to Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Control Program at this time.

The board could review these conditions later if additional studies or evidence are brought forth in the petition process. The next window for petitions will be November 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022.

Source: State Medical Board of Ohio Recent News, June 2022

Beginning July 15, 2022, Oregon licensed physician assistants (PAs) may begin entering a collaboration agreement to shift their practice from a supervisory to a collaborative practice model. By the end of 2023, all Oregon licensed PAs must enter a collaboration to practice in Oregon and all practice agreements and practice descriptions will be terminated. The changes to PA practice are applying HB 3036 (2021) passed by the Oregon Legislature.

Source: Oregon Medical Board Report, Spring 2022

In 2021, the Credentials Committee of the Virginia Board of Medicine began a study of the ways in which the licensing process for all professions could be streamlined. This project started with the 5 professions considered to be essential during the pandemic (MD, DO, DPM, PA, RT). Those professions were given waivers for certain requirements of the licensing process to expedite their ability to provide care to the citizens of the Commonwealth. It was thought that some of the accommodations provided during the pandemic could be adopted permanently, not only for the 5 initial professions but for all the Board’s professions. In the latter part of 2021, all professions were reviewed, and recommendations were made. A table outlining the documents required to be submitted directly from the primary source, ones that can be submitted as copies, and those no longer needed is available at http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/media/dhpweb/docs/med/News/archive/BoardBriefs94.pdf.

Source: Virginia Board of Medicine Board Briefs #94, April 2022