COVID-19 – EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
COVID-19 – EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION - Effective Febuary 5, 2021
Governor Kim Reynolds issued an Emergency Proclamation due to COVID-19 extending the following temporary provisions from Friday, February 5, 2021 until Sunday, March 7, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.
1.No Iowa Medical License Required: A physician may practice medicine/telemedicine in Iowa without an Iowa medical license on a temporary basis to aid in the emergency, if a physician holds at least one active medical license in another United State jurisdiction, and all medical licenses held by a physician in other United States jurisdictions are in good standing, without restrictions or conditions.
2.Telemedicine and Telehealth Services: All rules which establish preconditions, limitations, or restrictions on the provision of telehealth or telemedicine services in Iowa, including the use of audio-only telephone transmissions, continue to be suspended. All rules which require face-to-face interactions with health care providers, and impose requirements for residential and outpatient substance use disorder treatment and for face-to-face visitations, continue to be suspended.
3.Emergency Medical License - Medical School Graduates: An individual who has graduated from an accredited medical school but has not obtained an initial Iowa medical license may seek an emergency medical license from the Board. The Board may grant an emergency medical license if it determines that the individual has completed sufficient education. An individual who has been granted an emergency medical license, shall practice in accordance with any guidance provided by the Board.
Application for an Emergency Medical License: If a medical school graduate would like to apply for an Emergency Medical License they should go to the Iowa Board of Medicine’s website and use the Resident license application and indicate that they are applying for an Emergency Medical License.
4.Lapsed or Expired Iowa Medical Licenses: A physician whose Iowa medical license lapsed or expired in good standing within five (5) years of the date of the Proclamation may provide medical care and treatment of victims of this public health emergency for the duration of the Proclamation.
5.Continuing Medical Education (CME) Requirements: All requirements for in-person continuing medical education and all deadlines and other requirements for continuing medical education that are unable to be satisfied due to the health emergency, are temporarily suspended during the period of this health emergency. If a licensee is unable to complete the required continuing medical education required for renewal of their Iowa medical license due to the health emergency, they should note that on their next renewal application.
6.License Renewal Requirements: All license renewal requirements and deadlines continue to be temporarily suspended during the period of this health emergency. If a licensee had an active Iowa medical license on March 22, 2020, the expiration date will be automatically extended for the duration of this health emergency.
7.Criminal Background Checks: All criminal background checks required for initial licensure continue to be temporarily suspended during the period of this health emergency due to a temporary lack of fingerprinting services due to potential exposure to COVID-19.
8.In-Person Notarization: All requirements for in-person notarizations for licensure and other purposes are temporary suspended during the period of this health emergency due to potential exposure to COVID-19.
Please contact Kent M. Nebel, J.D., Executive Director, at 515-281-7088 or kent.nebel@iowa.gov if you have any questions or concerns.