Oklahoma Governor Announcement: Healthcare occupational licenses extended during the emergency
Announcement for all Licensed Healthcare Providers regarding Expiration of Licenses
On March 17, 2020, Governor Stitt issued Amended Executive Order 220-7 which provided additional responses to the current pandemic. The Order applies to all 77 counties and positions state agencies and departments to respond to the emergency with new hires and purchases as necessary. One portion of the order focuses on the providers in the front lines—physicians and nurses. While there is much for health care providers to worry about—office closings, staff, patient access to providers, and safety—providers will likely not be thinking about the status of license applications or the need to renew them. This executive order offers a grace period by providing the following guidance to providers with those state licensure issues:
Any medical professional who holds a license, certificate, or other permit issued by any state that is a party to the Emergency Management Compact evidencing the meeting of qualifications for the practice of certain medical services, as more particularly described below, shall be deemed licensed to practice in Oklahoma so long as this Order shall be in effect, subject to the following conditions:
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- This shall only apply to Medical (MD) and Allied Licenses issued by the Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, Licenses issued by State Board of Osteopathic Examiners, and Licenses and Certificates issued by the Board of Nursing, all three shall collectively be referred to as “Boards”;
- Any medical professional intending to practice in Oklahoma pursuant to this Order, hereinafter referred to as “Applicant,” shall first apply with and receive approval from appropriate Board;
- It is the responsibility of each Board to verify the license status of any applicant and, upon verification of good standing, shall issue a temporary license to practice within this State; and
- Any applicant licensed under this Order shall be subject to the oversight and jurisdiction of the licensing Board, which includes the ability of the Board to revoke said license and to initiate any administrative or civil proceeding related to any alleged misconduct of applicant.
All occupational licensed of this type shall be extended during the emergency and shall expire fourteen (14) days following the withdrawal or termination of Amended Executive Order 2002-07.
In addition, this Executive Order, supports The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Section 1135 Waiver in eliminating the current requirement that a preexisting patient relationship exist in order for treatment to continue via telehealth.