SB 757

Abstract

Department of Health; Department of Health Professions Medical Excellence Zone Program; telemedicine; reciprocal agreements. Directs the Department of Health to determine the feasibility of establishing a Medical Excellence Zone Program to allow citizens of the Commonwealth living in rural underserved areas to receive medical treatment via telemedicine services from providers licensed or registered in a state that is contiguous with the Commonwealth and directs the Department of Health Professions to pursue reciprocal agreements with such states for licensure for certain primary care practitioners licensed by the Board of Medicine. The bill requires the Department of Health to set out the criteria that would be required for a locality or group of localities in the Commonwealth to be eligible for the designation as a medical excellence zone and report its findings to the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions by November 1, 2020. The bill states that reciprocal agreements with states that are contiguous with the Commonwealth for the licensure of doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners shall only require that a person hold a current, unrestricted license in the other jurisdiction and that no grounds exist for denial based on the acts of unprofessional conduct. The Department of Health Professions is required to report on its progress in establishing such agreements to the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions by November 1, 2020. The bill requires the Board of Medicine to prioritize applications for licensure by endorsement as a doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner from such states through a streamlined process with a final determination regarding qualification to be made within 20 days of the receipt of a completed application. This bill is identical to HB 1701.

Department of Health; Department of Health ProfessionsMedical Excellence Zone Program; telemedicine; reciprocal agreements. Directsthe Department of Health to determine the feasibility of the establishment of aMedical Excellence Zone Program and directs the Department of HealthProfessions to pursue reciprocal agreements with states contiguous with theCommonwealth for licensure for certain primary care practitioners under theBoard of Medicine. The Medical Excellence Zone Program would allow citizens ofthe Commonwealth living in rural underserved areas to receive medical treatmentvia telemedicine services from providers licensed or registered in a state thatis contiguous with the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Department of Healthto set out the criteria that would be required for a locality or group oflocalities in the Commonwealth to be eligible for the designation as a medicalexcellence zone and report its findings to the Senate Committee on Educationand Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions byNovember 1, 2020. The bill states that reciprocal agreements with states thatare contiguous with the Commonwealth for the licensure of doctors of medicine,doctors of osteopathic medicine, physician assistants, and nurse practitionersshall only require that a person hold a current, unrestricted license in theother jurisdiction and that no grounds exist for denial based on § 54.1-2915.The Department of Health Professions shall report on its progress inestablishing such agreements to the Senate Committee on Education and Healthand the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions by November 1,2020. The bill provides that applicants for licensure as a doctor of medicineor osteopathic medicine from such states shall receive priority in processingtheir applications for licensure by endorsement through a streamlined processwith a final determination regarding qualification to be made within 20 days ofthe receipt of a completed application.