(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 individual 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 and 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 licensee of
the Board 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 conditions:
(1) Holds a
currently renewed, active, unrestricted license 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. A retired licensee shall meet any
requirements of the act or the regulations pertaining to continued education or
continued competency to be eligible for renewal.
(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, or cause to be provided:
(1) An executed verification on forms
provided by the Board certifying that the applicant intends to practice
exclusively:
(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) Verification that the applicant has
completed at least 3 hours of mandatory training in child abuse recognition and
reporting in accordance with §
5.97(a) (relating
to child abuse recognition and reporting- mandatory training
requirement).
(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
the change, or at the time of renewal, whichever occurs first.
(e)
Biennial renewal. A
volunteer license shall be renewed biennially on forms provided by the Board.
(1) As a condition of biennial renewal, the
applicant shall satisfy the same continuing education requirements as a holder
of an active, unrestricted license, including at least 2 hours of approved
courses in child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with §
5.97(b).
(2) The applicant shall be exempt from §
5.6 (relating to fees) pertaining
to the biennial renewal fee and shall be exempt from section 508 of the
Chiropractic Practice Act (
63 P.S. §
625.508) with regard to the maintenance of
liability insurance coverage under section 701 of the Health Care Services
Malpractice Act (40 P.S. § 1301-701).
(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 in accordance with 5.17 (relating to biennial
registration; unregistered status and inactive status; failure to renew;
address of record).
(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.
Notes
The
provisions of this § 5.20 adopted November 28, 1997, effective
11/29/1997, 27 Pa.B.
6204.
Amended by
Pennsylvania
Bulletin, Vol 53, No. 44. November 4, 2023, effective
11/4/2023
The provisions of this § 5.20 issued under
sections 302 and 1104 of the Chiropractic Practice Act (63 P. S.
§§
625.302 and
625.1104); and section 5 of
the Volunteer Health Services Act (35 P. S. §
449.45).
