The Florida Senate

458.315  Temporary certificate for practice in areas of critical need.--Any physician who is licensed to practice in any other state, whose license is currently valid, and who pays an application fee of $300 may be issued a temporary certificate to practice in communities of Florida where there is a critical need for physicians. A certificate may be issued to a physician who will be employed by a county health department, correctional facility, community health center funded by s. 329, s. 330, or s. 340 of the United States Public Health Services Act, or other entity that provides health care to indigents and that is approved by the State Health Officer. The Board of Medicine may issue this temporary certificate with the following restrictions:

(1)  The board shall determine the areas of critical need, and the physician so certified may practice in any of those areas for a time to be determined by the board. Such areas shall include, but not be limited to, health professional shortage areas designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

(a)  A recipient of a temporary certificate for practice in areas of critical need may use the license to work for any approved employer in any area of critical need approved by the board.

(b)  The recipient of a temporary certificate for practice in areas of critical need shall, within 30 days after accepting employment, notify the board of all approved institutions in which the licensee practices and of all approved institutions where practice privileges have been denied.

(2)  The board may administer an abbreviated oral examination to determine the physician's competency, but no written regular examination is necessary. Within 60 days after receipt of an application for a temporary certificate, the board shall review the application and issue the temporary certificate or notify the applicant of denial.

(3)  Any certificate issued under this section shall be valid only so long as the area for which it is issued remains an area of critical need. The Board of Medicine shall review the service within said area not less than annually to ascertain that the minimum requirements of the Medical Practice Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are being complied with. If it is determined that such minimum requirements are not being met, the board shall forthwith revoke such certificate.

(4)  The board shall not issue a temporary certificate for practice in an area of critical need to any physician who is under investigation in another state for an act which would constitute a violation of this chapter until such time as the investigation is complete, at which time the provisions of s. 458.331 shall apply.

(5)  The application fee and all licensure fees, including neurological injury compensation assessments, shall be waived for those persons obtaining a temporary certificate to practice in areas of critical need for the purpose of providing volunteer, uncompensated care for low-income Floridians. The applicant must submit an affidavit from the employing agency or institution stating that the physician will not receive any compensation for any service involving the practice of medicine.

History.--ss. 1, 8, ch. 79-302; s. 293, ch. 81-259; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 25, 26, ch. 86-245; s. 19, ch. 88-1; s. 8, ch. 88-277; s. 20, ch. 89-162; s. 8, ch. 89-374; s. 1, ch. 91-145; s. 12, ch. 91-220; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 141, ch. 97-101; s. 202, ch. 97-103; s. 96, ch. 99-397; s. 38, ch. 2000-318; s. 18, ch. 2001-277.