NJ Attorney General and Division of Consumer Affairs Provide Guidance on Telemedicine and Expedited Licensure Process During COVID-19
On March 20, 2020, as a result of the new COVID-19 laws, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Division of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Paul R. Rodriguez announced that, during the COVID-19 emergency, New Jersey will waive certain regulatory requirements for healthcare professionals licensed in other jurisdictions to become licensed in New Jersey and offer services to New Jersey patients, including telemedicine and telehealth services.
Under the regulatory waivers, practitioners who hold current healthcare licenses and certifications in good standing in other jurisdictions, and have been practicing within the last five years, will be able to secure New Jersey licenses by completing an Accelerated Temporary Licensure form for Health Care Practitioners.
According to the announcement, the Division of Consumer Affairs intends to grant applications within hours of receiving the form.
Under the accelerated temporary-licensure-by-reciprocity process, criminal history background checks, licensing fees, and submission of proof of a sufficient amount of medical malpractice insurance (where applicable) are waived. Certain licensure bodies are waiving additional requirements as well.
Eligible practitioners will be deemed licensed upon submission of a completed form. Licenses granted pursuant to this process will be valid for 180 days, with an additional 180-day extension available upon written request.
Accelerated temporary licensure by reciprocity is available for the following boards:
- Acupuncture Examining Board
- Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee (licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselors)
- Athletic Training Advisory Committee
- Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee
- New Jersey State Board of Dentistry (licensed dentists)
- Genetic Counseling Advisory Committee
- Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
- State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners (licensed marriage and family therapists)
- State Board of Medical Examiners
- New Jersey Board of Nursing (APNS, RNs, LPNs, and HHAs)
- Occupational Therapy Advisory Council (licensed occupational therapists)
- State Board of Examiners of Ophthalmic Dispensers and Ophthalmic Technicians
- New Jersey State Board of Optometrists
- Perfusionists Advisory Committee
- Board of Pharmacy
- State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (licensed physical therapists)
- Physician Assistant Advisory Committee
- State Board of Polysomnography (licensed polysomnographic technologists)
- Professional Counselor Examiners Committee (licensed professional counselors)
- Certified Psychoanalysts Advisory Committee
- State Board of Psychological Examiners
- State Board of Respiratory Care
- State Board of Social Work Examiners
In engaging in telehealth encounters with New Jersey patients, it is important for practitioners to keep in mind that the telehealth encounters remain subject to the same standard of care as a face-to-face encounter.
If you are a practitioner with a regulatory question or concern about your practice with respect to COVID-19 or any other reason, please contact Grace Mack or any member of the Health Law Team.
Tags: Coronavirus (COVID-19) • Telehealth
