LICENSING CHANGES
FOLLOWING TERMINATION OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY
The State of Emergency relative to COVID-19 terminated on June 15, 2021.
Extension of License Expiration
Any license that was extended beyond its original expiration date during the State of Emergency will remain active until its expiration on September 15, 2021. To ensure continued authorization from the Commonwealth to practice, licensees should submit a complete application for a full license no later than August 1, 2021 to allow for processing and issuance of a full license by September 15, 2021. Note, issuance of a full license by September 15, 2021 cannot be guaranteed if an incomplete application is submitted and/or if the application requires additional review and processing.
Renewal of Previously Expired Licenses
Any expired license that was temporarily renewed or reactivated during the State of Emergency will remain active until its expiration on September 15, 2021. In order to practice beyond September 15, a temporary licensee must apply for and receive a full license. To ensure continued authorization from the Commonwealth to practice, temporary licensees should submit a complete application for a full license no later than August 1, 2021 to allow for processing and issuance of a full license by September 15, 2021. Note, issuance of a full license by September 15, 2021 cannot be guaranteed if an incomplete application is submitted and/or if the application requires additional review and processing.
If a licensure applicant did not receive a temporary license on or before June 14, 2021, that individual must apply for permanent licensure and receive such a permanent license in order to practice in the Commonwealth.
Emergency reciprocity licensure
Any temporary license issued to a health care provider licensed in another state during the State of Emergency will remain active until its expiration on September 15, 2021. In order to practice beyond September 15, a temporary licensee must apply for and receive a full license. To ensure continued authorization from the Commonwealth to practice, temporary licensees should submit a complete application for a full license no later than August 1, 2021 to allow for processing and issuance of a full license by September 15, 2021. Note, issuance of a full license by September 15, 2021 cannot be guaranteed if an incomplete application is submitted and/or if the application requires additional review and processing.
If a licensure applicant has not received a temporary license on or before June 14, 2021, that individual must apply for permanent licensure and receive such a permanent license in order to practice in the Commonwealth.
Telemedicine
The Boards of Registration within the Department of Public Health shall refrain from taking disciplinary action or other enforcement action solely upon the basis of providing telemedicine services to a patient in Massachusetts provided that the person providing such telemedicine services holds a valid Massachusetts license at the time the service is provided, including a license issued in accordance with these provisions.
In addition, the Board of Registration in Nursing shall refrain from taking any disciplinary action solely upon the basis of providing telemedicine services against the license of a nurse who provides care to an established patient who is a student enrolled in a college or university located in Massachusetts during the 2019-2020 academic year upon the student’s return to his or her home state. If the student’s home state is a state other than Massachusetts, nurses who provide such continued care are nevertheless advised to contact the applicable licensing board in the state in which the patient/client/student is at the time of service to determine whether or not such practice is permitted in that jurisdiction.
The exceptions for telemedicine authorized during the State of Emergency will expire on September 15, 2021.