Important Issues

Today, DC Health circulated new emergency rules extending the temporary healthcare license provisions until October 31. The emergency rules, however, limit what types of practitioners and facilities can benefit from this extension.

The rule states that individuals will be allowed to "engage in the unlicensed practice of a health occupation... provided that the individual is licensed in good standing in their home jurisdiction in the applicable health occupation." The unlicensed individual must file an application by October 1 or ten days after the first instance of providing unlicensed care to a patient for a permanent license.

The restrictions come in for the types of facilities that may use unlicensed workers. They include:

• Ambulatory surgical facilities
• Hospitals
• Maternity centers
• Nursing homes
• Assisted living residence and facilities
• Group homes
• Home care agencies
• Hospices

Some types of physician offices not classified as ambulatory surgical facilities are excluded from this emergency rule, and cannot employ unlicensed health practitioners on a temporary basis. Facilities employing such unlicensed temporary practitioners are responsible for their compliance with these requirements.

You can read the full emergency order here.