Temporary certificate for practice in areas of critical need.

(1) A physician licensed to practice in any jurisdiction of the United States whose license is currently valid may be issued a temporary certificate for practice in areas of critical need. A physician seeking such certificate must pay an application fee of $300. A physician assistant licensed to practice in any state of the United States or the District of Columbia whose license is currently valid may be issued a temporary certificate for practice in areas of critical need.

(2) A temporary certificate may be issued under this section to a physician or physician assistant who will:

(a) Practice in an area of critical need;

(b) Be employed by or practice in a county health department; correctional facility; Department of Veterans’ Affairs clinic; community health center funded by s. 329, s. 330, or s. 340 of the United States Public Health Services Act; or other agency or institution that is approved by the State Surgeon General and provides health care services to meet the needs of underserved populations in this state; or

(c) Practice for a limited time to address critical physician-specialty, demographic, or geographic needs for this state’s physician workforce as determined by the State Surgeon General.

(3) The board may issue a temporary certificate under this section subject to the following restrictions:

(a) The State Surgeon General shall determine the areas of critical need. Such areas include, but are not limited to, health professional shortage areas designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

1. A recipient of a temporary certificate for practice in areas of critical need may use the certificate to work for any approved entity in any area of critical need or as authorized by the State Surgeon General.

2. 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, as applicable.

(b) The board may administer an abbreviated oral examination to determine the physician’s or physician assistant’s competency, but a written regular examination is not required. Within 60 days after receipt of an application for a temporary certificate, the board shall review the application and issue the temporary certificate, notify the applicant of denial, or notify the applicant that the board recommends additional assessment, training, education, or other requirements as a condition of certification. If the applicant has not actively practiced during the 3-year period immediately preceding the application and the board determines that the applicant may lack clinical competency, possess diminished or inadequate skills, lack necessary medical knowledge, or exhibit patterns of deficits in clinical decisionmaking, the board may:

1. Deny the application;

2. Issue a temporary certificate having reasonable restrictions that may include, but are not limited to, a requirement for the applicant to practice under the supervision of a physician approved by the board; or

3. Issue a temporary certificate upon receipt of documentation confirming that the applicant has met any reasonable conditions of the board which may include, but are not limited to, completing continuing education or undergoing an assessment of skills and training.

(c)1. Any certificate issued under this section is valid only so long as one of the following conditions applies:

a. The State Surgeon General determines that the reason for which it was issued remains a critical need to the state; or

b. The certificate was issued for practice in an area of critical need that has since lost its designation and the certificateholder maintains an active primary care treatment relationship in the area with one or more patients. In such case, the certificateholder may continue providing primary care services to patients in such area under the certificate if the board finds that all other requirements are satisfied during its review of the certificateholder.

2. The board shall review each temporary certificateholder at least annually to ascertain that the certificateholder is complying with the minimum requirements of the Medical Practice Act and its adopted rules, as applicable to the certificateholder. If it is determined that the certificateholder is not meeting such minimum requirements, the board must revoke such certificate or impose restrictions or conditions, or both, as a condition of continued practice under the certificate.

(d) The board may not issue a temporary certificate for practice in an area of critical need to any physician or physician assistant who is under investigation in any jurisdiction in the United States for an act that would constitute a violation of this chapter until such time as the investigation is complete, at which time s. 458.331 applies.

(4) The application fee and all licensure fees, including neurological injury compensation assessments, are 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 residents. The applicant must submit an affidavit from the employing agency or institution stating that the physician or physician assistant will not receive any compensation for any health care services provided by the applicant.