York County Medicine Spring 2021 - 14

YO R K C O M E D S O C . O R G

FEATURE:

Waivers Issued Regarding Retired
Physician and Medical Student
Administration of COVID-19
Vaccines, Volunteer Licensee
Practice Sites Also Expanded
Last Updated: Feb 8, 2021
UPDATE: Med Mal Insurance Not Required for Retired
Physicians, including those Physicians holding an
Active-Retired License
On Feb. 5, 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of State
(DOS) and Gov. Wolf issued regulatory waivers enabling certain
retired physicians and medical students to assist with COVID-19
vaccination efforts. Additionally, a waiver was also issued
expanding volunteer licensee practice sites beyond approved
clinics and organizations, and suspending certain administrative
requirements related to volunteer licenses.

Waiver Allowing Retired Physicians to
Administer COVID-19 Vaccines
This regulatory waiver enables physicians and nurses whose
Pennsylvania licenses lapsed, expired or became inactive within
the last five years to administer COVID-19 vaccines without
reactivating or renewing their licenses, provided they meet
specific qualification requirements.
These requirements are as follows for physicians:
* who have held active licenses to prescribe, dispense or
administer vaccines within the last five years, and
* whose licenses are currently inactive, expired or lapsed, and
* whose licenses, at the time of the lapse or expiration, were
* active in good standing, and
* not revoked, suspended, under investigation or on the
List of Excluded Individuals/Entities
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Additionally, before administering COVID-19 vaccines,
retired practitioners must also complete the Centers for Disease
Control's (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccine Training Modules and be
observed by a practicing healthcare professional who documents
that the retired licensee is experienced in vaccination and is
competent in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.
CDC Training Modules can be accessed here. https://tinyurl.
com/sxpypfth
The full waiver can be accessed here. https://tinyurl.com/
u7szx85n
This waiver is in accordance with and provides clarity
following a recent announcement by President Biden of his
Administration's plan to utilize retired physicians to assist with
COVID-19 vaccination efforts and a subsequent amendment
by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act for
Medical Countermeasures Against COVID-19 (PREP Act) to
allow such. The full amendment can be accessed here.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-02-02/pdf/202102174.pdf
This waiver applies solely to COVID-19 vaccines and
shall last for the duration of the amendments to the PREP
Declaration, or for the duration of the Governor's Disaster
Emergency Declaration, whichever is longer, plus an additional
90 days thereafter, unless terminated sooner.
UPDATED: February 12, 2021
PAMED continued to advocate for its members and sought
clarification regarding the waiver relative to retired physicians,
including whether they apply to only retired physicians or also
to physicians who hold an active-retired license (which allows
physicians to care for family members).
http://www.YORKCOMEDSOC.ORG https://tinyurl https://tinyurl.com/u7szx85n https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-02-02/pdf/2021-02174.pdf
York County Medicine Spring 2021

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