(a)
Purpose and definitions.
(1)
The following subsections implement the Volunteer Health Services Act
(35
P. S. §§
449.41-449.50) and provide
for the issuance of a volunteer license to a qualified Board-regulated
practitioner as defined in section 2 of the act (63 P. S. §
422.2), who retires from active practice and
seeks to provide professional services as a volunteer. A volunteer license
authorizes the holder to practice only in an organized community-based clinic
without remuneration.
(2) The
following words and terms, when used in this section, have the following
meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Approved clinic-An organized
community-based clinic offering primary health care services to individuals and
families who cannot pay for their care, to Medical Assistance clients or to
residents of medically underserved areas or health professionals shortage
areas. The term includes a State health center, nonprofit community-based
clinic and Federally qualified health center, as designated by Federal
rulemaking or as approved by the Department of Health or the Department of
Public Welfare.
Unrestricted license-A license which is
not restricted or limited by order of the Board under its disciplinary
power.
(b)
License. A volunteer license may be issued to a
Board-regulated practitioner of the Board for whom the Board has received
verification from the course provider that the applicant has completed at least
3 hours of approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting in
accordance with §
16.108(a)
(relating to child abuse recognition and reporting-mandatory training
requirement) and who documents to the satisfaction of the Board that the
applicant will practice without personal remuneration in approved clinics and
meets one of the following:
(1) Holds a
currently renewed, active, unrestricted license, registration or certificate in
this Commonwealth and retires from active practice at the time the applicant
applies for a volunteer license.
(2) Retires from active practice in this
Commonwealth in possession of an unrestricted license which was allowed to
lapse by not renewing it.
(c)
Applications. An
applicant for a volunteer license shall complete an application obtained from
the Board. In addition to providing information requested by the Board, the
applicant shall provide:
(1) An executed
verification on forms provided by the Board certifying that the applicant
intends to practice exclusively as follows:
(i) Without personal remuneration for
professional services.
(ii) In an
approved clinic.
(2) A
letter signed by the director or chief operating officer of an approved clinic
that the applicant has been authorized to provide volunteer services in the
named clinic by the governing body or responsible officer of the
clinic.
(3) A certification
statement confirming that the applicant has completed at least 3 hours of
approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with
§ 16.108(a).
(d)
Validity of license. A volunteer license shall be valid for
the biennial period for which it is issued, subject to biennial renewal. During
each biennial renewal period, the volunteer license holder shall notify the
Board of any change in clinic or volunteer status within 30 days of the date of
a change, or at the time of renewal, whichever occurs first.
(e)
Renewal of license. A
volunteer license shall be renewed biennially on forms provided by the Board.
In accordance with section 6(c) or (d) of the Volunteer Health Services Act
(
35
P.S. §
449.46), a volunteer license
holder shall comply with the applicable continuing education requirements,
including at least 2 hours of training in approved child abuse recognition and
reporting in accordance with §
16.108(b). The
applicant shall be exempt from payment of the biennial renewal fee of §
16.13 (relating to licensure,
certification, examination and registration fees), and is exempt from the
requirements with regard to the maintenance of liability insurance coverage
under section 711 of the MCARE Act (
40 P.S. §
1303.711) as provided in section 9 of the
Volunteer Health Services Act (
35 P.S. §
449.49).
(f)
Return to active
practice. A volunteer license holder who desires to return to active
practice shall notify the Board and apply for biennial registration on forms
provided by the Board.
(g)
Disciplinary provisions. A volunteer license holder shall be
subject to the disciplinary provisions of the act and this chapter. Failure of
the licensee to comply with the Volunteer Health Services Act (35 P. S.
§§
449.41-449.50) or this section
may also constitute grounds for disciplinary action.