Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/WVCODE/Code.cfm?chap=30&art=3
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 20:09:57+00:00

Document:
§30-3-5. West Virginia Board of Medicine powers and duties continued; appointment and terms of members; vacancies; removal.
§30-3-6. Conduct of business of West Virginia Board of Medicine; meetings; officers; compensation; expenses; quorum.
§30-3-7. Powers and duties of West Virginia Board of Medicine.
§30-3-7a. Findings and Rule-making authority.
§30-3-8. State health officer to act as secretary of the board.
§30-3-9. Records of board; expungement; examination; notice; public information; voluntary agreements relating to alcohol or chemical dependency; confidentiality of same; physician-patient privileges.
§30-3-10. Licenses to practice medicine and surgery or podiatry.
§30-3-10a. Special volunteer medical license; civil immunity for voluntary services rendered to indigents.
§30-3-11. Endorsement of licenses to practice medicine and surgery and podiatry; fees; temporary license; summer camp doctors.
§30-3-11a. Endorsement of licenses to practice medicine and surgery as medical school faculty.
§30-3-11b. License to practice medicine and surgery at certain state veterans nursing home facilities.
§30-3-12. Biennial renewal of license to practice medicine and surgery or podiatry; continuing education; rules; fee; inactive license; denial for conviction of felony offense.
§30-3-13a. Telemedicine practice; requirements; exceptions; definitions; rule-making.
§30-3-18. Combining staff functions with West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the practice of medicine and surgery and the practice of podiatry is a privilege and not a natural right of individuals. As a matter of public policy, it is necessary to protect the public interest through enactment of this article and to regulate the granting of such privileges and their use.
The purpose of this article is to provide for the licensure and professional discipline of physicians and podiatrists and for the licensure and professional discipline of physician assistants and to provide a professional environment that encourages the delivery of quality medical services within this state.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "West Virginia Medical Practice Act."
(1) "Board" means the West Virginia Board of Medicine established in section five of this article.
(2) "Medical peer review committee" means a committee of, or appointed by, a state or local professional medical society, or a committee of, or appointed by, a medical staff of a licensed hospital, long-term care facility or other health care facility, or any health care peer review organization as defined in section one, article three-c of this chapter, or any other organization of professionals in this state formed pursuant to state or federal law and authorized to evaluate medical and health care services.
(3) "Practice of medicine and surgery" means the diagnosis or treatment of, or operation or prescription for, any human disease, pain, injury, deformity or other physical or mental condition. "Surgery" includes the use on humans of lasers, ionizing radiation, pulsed light and radiofrequency devices. The provisions of this section do not apply to any person who is a duly licensed health care provider under other pertinent provisions of this code and who is acting within the scope of his or her license.
(4) "Practice of podiatry" means the examination, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and care of conditions and functions of the human foot and ankle by medical, surgical and other scientific knowledge and methods; with surgical treatment of the ankle authorized only when a podiatrist has been granted privileges to perform ankle surgery by a hospital's medical staff credentialing committee based on the training and experience of the podiatrist; and medical and surgical treatment of warts and other dermatological lesions of the hand which similarly occur in the foot. When a podiatrist uses other than local anesthesia, in surgical treatment of the foot, the anesthesia must be administered by, or under the direction of, an anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist authorized under the State of West Virginia to administer anesthesia. A medical evaluation shall be made by a physician of every patient prior to the administration of other than local anesthesia.
(5) "State health officer" means the commissioner for the Bureau for Public Health or his or her designee, which officer or designee shall be a physician and shall act as secretary of the board and shall carry out any and all responsibilities assigned in this article to the secretary of the board.
The West Virginia Board of Medicine has assumed, carried on and succeeded to all the duties, rights, powers, obligations and liabilities heretofore belonging to or exercised by the Medical Licensing Board of West Virginia. All the rules, orders, rulings, licenses, certificates, permits and other acts and undertakings of the medical licensing board of West Virginia as heretofore constituted have continued as those of the West Virginia Board of Medicine until they expired or were amended, altered or revoked. The board remains the sole authority for the issuance of licenses to practice medicine and surgery and to practice podiatry and to practice as physician assistants in this state under the supervision of physicians licensed under this article. The board shall continue to be a regulatory and disciplinary body for the practice of medicine and surgery and the practice of podiatry and for physician assistants in this state.
The board shall consist of sixteen members. One member shall be the state health officer ex officio, with the right to vote as a member of the board. The other fifteen members shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Eight of the members shall be appointed from among individuals holding the degree of doctor of medicine and two shall hold the degree of doctor of podiatric medicine. Two members shall be physician assistants licensed by the board. Each of these members must be duly licensed to practice his or her profession in this state on the date of appointment and must have been licensed and actively practicing that profession for at least five years immediately preceding the date of appointment. Three lay members shall be appointed to represent health care consumers. Neither the lay members nor any person of the lay members’ immediate families shall be a provider of or be employed by a provider of health care services. The state health officer’s term shall continue for the period that he or she holds office as state health officer. Each other member of the board shall be appointed to serve a term of five years: Provided, That the members of the Board of Medicine holding appointments on the effective date of this section shall continue to serve as members of the Board of Medicine until the expiration of their term unless sooner removed. Each term shall begin on October 1 of the applicable year and a member may not be appointed to more than two consecutive full terms on the board.
A person is not eligible for membership on the board who is a member of any political party executive committee or, with the exception of the state health officer, who holds any public office or public employment under the federal government or under the government of this state or any political subdivision thereof.
In making appointments to the board, the Governor shall, so far as practicable, select the members from different geographical sections of the state. When a vacancy on the board occurs and less than one year remains in the unexpired term, the appointee shall be eligible to serve the remainder of the unexpired term and two consecutive full terms on the board.
No member may be removed from office by the Governor except for official misconduct, incompetence, neglect of duty or gross immorality: Provided, That the expiration, surrender or revocation of the professional license by the board of a member of the board shall cause the membership to immediately and automatically terminate.
Every two years the board shall elect from among its members a president and vice president. Regular meetings shall be held as scheduled by the rules of the board. Special meetings of the board may be called by the joint action of the president and vice president or by any three members of the board on seven days' prior written notice by mail postage prepaid or electronic means or, in case of emergency, on two days' notice by telephone and electronic means. With the exception of the state health officer, members of the board shall receive compensation and expense reimbursement in accordance with section eleven, article one of this chapter.
A majority of the membership of the board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business, and business is transacted by a majority vote of a quorum, except for disciplinary actions which shall require the affirmative vote of not less than five members or a majority vote of those present, whichever is greater.
Meetings of the board shall be held in public session. Disciplinary proceedings, prior to a finding of probable cause as provided in subsection (p), section fourteen of this article, shall be held in closed sessions, unless the party subject to discipline requests that the proceedings be held in public session.
(4) Employ investigators, attorneys, hearing examiners, consultants and such other employees as may be necessary, who shall be exempt from the classified service of the Division of Personnel and who shall serve at the will and pleasure of the board. In addition, all personnel employed through the Department of Health and Human Resources on June 30, 2009, to provide services for the board are hereby transferred to the board effective July 1, 2009. However, the employment, salary, benefits or position classification of any person transferred under this section may not be reduced or diminished by reason of this section. All persons transferred shall retain their coverage under the classified service of the Division of Personnel and all matters relating to job classification, job tenure and conditions of employment shall remain in force and effect from and after the date of this section, to the same extent as if this section had not been reenacted. Also, nothing herein shall prohibit the disciplining or dismissal of any employee for cause.
(8) Perform such other duties as are set forth in this article or otherwise provided for in this code.
(b) The board shall submit an annual report of its activities to the Legislature. The report shall include a statistical analysis of complaints received, charges investigated, charges dismissed after investigation, the grounds for each such dismissal and disciplinary proceedings and disposition.
(a) The Legislature finds that it is appropriate and in the public interest to require the board of Medicine to regulate the practice of Radiologist Assistants.
The state health officer, in addition to being a member of the board, shall act as its secretary. He or she shall, together with the president of the board, sign all licenses, reports, orders and other documents that may be required by the board in the performance of its duties.
(a) The board shall maintain a permanent record of the names of all physicians, podiatrists, and physician assistants, licensed, certified or otherwise lawfully practicing in this state and of all persons applying to be so licensed to practice, along with an individual historical record for each such individual containing reports and all other information furnished the board under this article or otherwise. Such record may include, in accordance with rules established by the board, additional items relating to the individual's record of professional practice that will facilitate proper review of such individual's professional competence.
(b) Upon a determination by the board that any report submitted to it is without merit, the report shall be expunged from the individual's historical record.
(c) A physician, podiatrist, physician assistant or applicant, or authorized representative thereof, has the right, upon request, to examine his or her own individual historical record maintained by the board pursuant to this article and to place into such record a statement of reasonable length of his or her own view of the correctness or relevance of any information existing in such record. Such statement shall at all times accompany that part of the record in contention.
(d) A physician, podiatrist, physician assistant or applicant has the right to seek through court action the amendment or expungement of any part of his or her historical record.
(e) A physician, podiatrist, physician assistant or applicant shall be provided written notice within thirty days of the placement and substance of any information in his or her individual historical record that pertains to him or her and that was not submitted to the board by him or her.
(f) Except for information relating to biographical background, education, professional training and practice, a voluntary agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (h) of this section and which has been disclosed to the board, prior disciplinary action by any entity, or information contained on the licensure application, the board shall expunge information in an individual's historical record unless it has initiated a proceeding for a hearing upon such information within two years of the placing of the information into the historical record.
(g) Orders of the board relating to disciplinary action against a physician, podiatrist or physician assistant are public information.
(h)(1) In order to encourage voluntary participation in monitored alcohol chemical dependency or major mental illness programs and in recognition of the fact that major mental illness, alcoholism and chemical dependency are illnesses, a physician, podiatrist or physician assistant licensed, certified or otherwise lawfully practicing in this state or applying for a license to practice in this state may enter into a voluntary agreement with the physician health program as defined in section two, article three-d of this chapter. The agreement between the physician, podiatrist or physician assistant and the physician health program shall include a jointly agreed upon treatment program and mandatory conditions and procedures to monitor compliance with the program of recovery.
(C) The physician, podiatrist or physician assistant is in compliance with the voluntary treatment program and the conditions and procedures to monitor compliance.
(3) If any physician, podiatrist or physician assistant enters into a voluntary agreement with the board-approved physician health program, pursuant to this subsection and then fails to comply with or fulfill the terms of said agreement, the physician health program shall report the noncompliance to the board within twenty-four hours. The board may initiate disciplinary proceedings pursuant to subsection (a), section fourteen of this article or may permit continued participation in the physician health program or both.
(4) If the board has not instituted any disciplinary proceeding as provided for in this article, any information received, maintained or developed by the board relating to the alcohol or chemical dependency impairment of any physician, podiatrist or physician assistant and any voluntary agreement made pursuant to this subsection shall be confidential and not available for public information, discovery or court subpoena, nor for introduction into evidence in any medical professional liability action or other action for damages arising out of the provision of or failure to provide health care services.
In the board's annual report of its activities to the Legislature required under section seven of this article, the board shall include information regarding the success of the voluntary agreement mechanism established therein: Provided, That in making such report, the board shall not disclose any personally identifiable information relating to any physician, podiatrist or physician assistant participating in a voluntary agreement as provided herein.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions, the board may cooperate with and provide documentation of any voluntary agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection to licensing boards in other jurisdictions of which the board has become aware and may be appropriate.
(i) Any physician-patient privilege does not apply in any investigation or proceeding by the board or by a medical peer review committee or by a hospital governing board with respect to relevant hospital medical records, while any of the aforesaid are acting within the scope of their authority: Provided, That the disclosure of any information pursuant to this provision shall not be considered a waiver of any such privilege in any other proceeding.
(a) A person seeking licensure as an allopathic physician shall apply to the board.
(E) Meets any other criteria for licensure set forth in this article or in rules promulgated by the board pursuant to §30-3-7 of this code and in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code.
(G) Meets any other criteria for licensure set forth in this article or in rules promulgated by the board pursuant to §30-3-7 of this code and in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code.
(F) Meets any other reasonable criteria for licensure set forth in this article or in legislative rules promulgated by the board.
(5) That orders denying applications for a restricted license under this subsection are not appealable.
(f) The board may propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code that establish and regulate the restricted license issued to an applicant in extraordinary circumstances pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(g) Personal interviews by board members of all applicants are not required. An applicant for a license may be required by the board, in its discretion, to appear for a personal interview and may be required to produce original documents for review by the board.
(h) All licenses to practice medicine and surgery granted prior to July 1, 2008, and valid on that date shall continue in full effect for the term and under the conditions provided by law at the time of the granting of the license: Provided, That the provisions of §30-3-10(d) of this code do not apply to any person legally entitled to practice chiropody or podiatry in this state prior to June 11, 1965: Provided, however, That all persons licensed to practice chiropody prior to June 11, 1965, are permitted to use the term “chiropody-podiatry” and shall have the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a podiatrist set out in this article.
(i) The board may not issue a license to a person not previously licensed in West Virginia whose license has been revoked or suspended in another state until reinstatement of his or her license in that state.
(j) The board need not reject a candidate for a nonmaterial technical or administrative error or omission in the application process that is unrelated to the candidate’s professional qualifications as long as there is sufficient information available to the board to determine the eligibility and qualifications of the candidate for licensure.
(4) the physician agrees to continue to participate in continuing medical education as required of physicians in active practice.
(b) Any person engaged in the active practice of medicine in this state whose license is in good standing may donate their expertise for the medical care and treatment of indigent and needy patients under an arrangement with a clinic organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge to the patient. Services rendered under an arrangement may be performed in either the physician’s office or the clinical setting.
(c) Any physician who renders any medical service to indigent and needy patients of a clinic organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge under a special volunteer medical license authorized under subsection (a) of this section or pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of this section without payment or compensation or the expectation or promise of payment or compensation is immune from liability for any civil action arising out of any act or omission resulting from the rendering of the medical service at the clinic unless the act or omission was the result of the physician’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. In order for the immunity under this subsection to apply, there must be a written agreement between the physician and the clinic pursuant to which the physician will provide voluntary noncompensated medical services under the control of the clinic to patients of the clinic before the rendering of any services by the physician at the clinic: Provided, That any clinic entering into such written agreement shall be required to maintain liability coverage of not less than $1 million per occurrence.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a clinic organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge is not relieved from imputed liability for the negligent acts of a physician rendering voluntary medical services at or for the clinic under a special volunteer medical license authorized under subsection (a) of this section or pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(e) For purposes of this section, “otherwise eligible for licensure” means the satisfaction of all the requirements for licensure as listed in section ten of this article and in the legislative rules promulgated hereunder, except the fee requirements of subsections (b) and (d) of said section and of the legislative rule promulgated by the board relating to fees.
(f) Nothing in this section may be construed as requiring the board to issue a special volunteer medical license to any physician whose medical license is or has been subject to any disciplinary action or to any physician who has surrendered a medical license or caused such license to lapse, expire and become invalid in lieu of having a complaint initiated or other action taken against his or her medical license, or who has elected to place a medical license in inactive status in lieu of having a complaint initiated or other action taken against his or her medical license, or who have been denied a medical license.
(g) Any policy or contract of liability insurance providing coverage for liability sold, issued or delivered in this state to any physician covered under the provisions of this article shall be read so as to contain a provision or endorsement whereby the company issuing such policy waives or agrees not to assert as a defense on behalf of the policyholder or any beneficiary thereof, to any claim covered by the terms of such policy within the policy limits, the immunity from liability of the insured by reason of the care and treatment of needy and indigent patients by a physician who holds a special volunteer medical license or who renders such care and treatment pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of this section: Provided, That this subsection shall not apply to a terminated policy, terminated contract of liability insurance or extended reporting endorsement attached thereto that provides "tail insurance" as defined by section two, article twenty-d, chapter thirty-three of this code: Provided, however, That nothing within this subsection shall be construed to extend coverage under a terminated policy or terminated contract of liability insurance or any extended reporting endorsement attached thereto to: (1) Alter or amend the effective policy period of any policy, contract of liability insurance or extended reporting endorsement; or (2) cover the treatment of indigent and needy patients by a physician who holds a special volunteer medical license or who renders such care and treatment pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(2) He or she must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board that he or she has the requisite qualifications to provide the same standard of care as a physician or podiatrist initially licensed in this state.
(b) The board may investigate the applicant and may request a personal interview to review the applicant's qualifications and professional credentials.
(c) The board may, at its discretion, grant a temporary license to an individual applying for licensure under this section if the individual meets the requirements of subdivision (1), subsection (a) of this section. Such temporary license shall only be valid until the board is able to meet and consider the endorsement request. The board may fix and collect a reasonable fee for a temporary license, the amount of such reasonable fee to be set by the board.
(d) The application fee shall be waived, and to the extent consistent with the integrity of the licensure process and the requirements for licensure as set forth in this section and in the relevant legislative rules, the board shall expedite its processing of an individual's application to practice medicine and surgery, or practice podiatry: Provided, That the sole purpose for licensure is to provide services at a children's summer camp for not more than one specifically designated three week period annually. The license shall be issued for a period of the specifically designated three weeks only, on an annual basis.
(7) He or she has been offered and has accepted a faculty appointment to teach in a medical school in this state.
(b) The board shall investigate the applicant and may request a personal interview to review the applicant's qualifications and professional credentials.
(c) The medical practice of a physician licensed under this section is limited to the medical center of the medical school to which the physician has been appointed to the faculty.
(d) A limited license issued under this section is valid for a term of one year. No limited license issued pursuant to this section may be renewed.
(e) Before the limited license has expired, a physician licensed under this section may apply for a license to practice medicine and surgery in West Virginia pursuant to the provisions of section twelve of this article: Provided, That any license granted by the board pursuant to this subsection, retains the practice limitations set out in subsection (c) of this section.
(f) Any license issued under this section will automatically expire and be void, without notice to the physician, when the physician's faculty appointment is terminated. The dean of the medical school shall notify the board within five days of the termination of a faculty appointment of a physician licensed pursuant to this section.
(g) A physician licensed under this section must keep all medical licenses issued by other jurisdictions in good standing and must notify the board, within fifteen days of its occurrence, of any denial, suspension or revocation of or any limitation placed on a medical license issued by another jurisdiction.
(a) The board is authorized and encouraged to the best of its ability to issue a license to practice medicine and surgery in this state without examination to a physician that currently holds a license to practice medicine and surgery at a Federal Veterans Administration Hospital upon completion of an application form prescribed by the board and who presents satisfactory proof to the board that he or she is currently employed and practicing in a Federal Veterans Administration Hospital that is located in a county in which a nursing home operated by the West Virginia Department of Veteran's Assistance is located: Provided, That the physician shall maintain an valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in another state.
(b) The medical practice for which a physician is licensed under this section is limited to practice in a nursing home operated by the West Virginia Department of Veteran's Assistance that is located in the same county in which the Federal Veterans Administration Hospital where the individual is employed.
(c) No fee may be assessed to an individual licensed or seeking licensure pursuant to this section.
(d) The board shall propose emergency rules pursuant to the provisions of section fifteen, article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this section.
(e) The board shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by July 1, 2016 on the implementation of this section including the number of licenses issued, number of complaints, and any other pertinent legislation.
(a) A license to practice medicine and surgery or podiatry in this state is valid for a term of two years.
(3) A certification of participation in and successful completion of a minimum of fifty hours of continuing medical or podiatric education satisfactory to the board, as appropriate to the particular license, during the preceding two-year period.
(c) The application may not require disclosure of a voluntary agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (h), section nine of this article.
(d) Continuing medical education satisfactory to the board is continuing medical education designated as Category I by the American Medical Association or the Academy of Family Physicians and alternate categories approved by the board.
(e) Continuing podiatric education satisfactory to the board is continuing podiatric education approved by the Council on Podiatric Education and alternate categories approved by the board.
(f) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, beginning July 1, 2007, failure to timely submit to the board a certification of successful completion of a minimum of fifty hours of continuing medical or podiatric education satisfactory to the board, as appropriate to the particular license, shall result in the automatic expiration of any license to practice medicine and surgery or podiatry until such time as the certification, with all supporting written documentation, is submitted to and approved by the board.
(3) Pay a reinstatement fee equal to fifty percent of the renewal fee.
(3) Pay such fees as determined by the board.
(i) Any individual who accepts the privilege of practicing medicine and surgery or podiatry in this state is required to provide supporting written documentation of the continuing education represented as received within thirty days of receipt of a written request to do so by the board. If a licensee fails or refuses to provide supporting written documentation of the continuing education represented as received as required in this section, such failure or refusal to provide supporting written documentation is prima facie evidence of renewing a license to practice medicine and surgery or podiatry by fraudulent misrepresentation.
(j) The board may renew, on an inactive basis, the license of a physician or podiatrist who is currently licensed to practice medicine and surgery or podiatry in, but is not actually practicing, medicine and surgery or podiatry in this state. A physician or podiatrist holding an inactive license shall not practice medicine and surgery or podiatry in this state.
(2) Submits written documentation of participation in and successful completion of a minimum of fifty hours of continuing medical or podiatric education satisfactory to the board, as appropriate to the particular license, during each preceding two-year period.
(l) An inactive license may be obtained upon receipt of a reasonable fee, as set by the board, and submission of an application on forms provided by the board on a biennial basis.
(m) The board may not require any physician or podiatrist who is retired or retiring from the active practice of medicine and surgery or the practice of podiatry and who is voluntarily surrendering their license to return to the board the license certificate issued to them by the board.
(n) The board may deny or refuse to reissue a license to any person who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of this state, any other state, the United States or the laws of any other country or state outside of the United States.
(1) “Chronic nonmalignant pain” means pain that has persisted after reasonable medical efforts have been made to relieve the pain or cure its cause and that has continued, either continuously or episodically, for longer than three continuous months. “Chronic nonmalignant pain” does not include pain associated with a terminal condition or illness or with a progressive disease that, in the normal course of progression, may reasonably be expected to result in a terminal condition or illness.
(2) “Physician” means a person licensed by the West Virginia Board of Medicine to practice allopathic medicine in West Virginia.
(3) “Store and forward telemedicine” means the asynchronous computer-based communication of medical data or images from an originating location to a physician or podiatrist at another site for the purpose of diagnostic or therapeutic assistance.
(4) “Telemedicine” means the practice of medicine using tools such as electronic communication, information technology, store and forward telecommunication, or other means of interaction between a physician or podiatrist in one location and a patient in another location, with or without an intervening health care provider.
(5) “Telemedicine technologies” means technologies and devices which enable secure electronic communications and information exchange in the practice of telemedicine, and typically involve the application of secure real-time audio/video conferencing or similar secure video services, remote monitoring or store and forward digital image technology to provide or support health care delivery by replicating the interaction of a traditional in-person encounter between a physician or podiatrist and a patient.
(1) The practice of medicine occurs where the patient is located at the time the telemedicine technologies are used.
(2) A physician or podiatrist who practices telemedicine must be licensed as provided in this article.
(B) Furnishing of medical assistance by a physician or podiatrist in case of an emergency or disaster, if no charge is made for the medical assistance.
(B) For the practice of pathology and radiology, a physician-patient relationship may be established through store and forward telemedicine or other similar technologies.
(3) Once a physician-patient or podiatrist-patient relationship has been established, either through an in-person encounter or in accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection, the physician or podiatrist may utilize any telemedicine technology that meets the standard of care and is appropriate for the particular patient presentation.
(9) The requirements of subdivisions (1) through (8), inclusive, of this subsection do not apply to the practice of pathology or radiology medicine through store and forward telemedicine.
The practice of medicine or podiatry provided via telemedicine technologies, including the establishment of a physician-patient or podiatrist-patient relationship and issuing a prescription via electronic means as part of a telemedicine encounter, are subject to the same standard of care, professional practice requirements and scope of practice limitations as traditional in-person physician-patient or podiatrist-patient encounters. Treatment, including issuing a prescription, based solely on an online questionnaire, does not constitute an acceptable standard of care.
The patient record established during the use of telemedicine technologies shall be accessible and documented for both the physician or podiatrist and the patient, consistent with the laws and legislative rules governing patient health care records. All laws governing the confidentiality of health care information and governing patient access to medical records shall apply to records of practice of medicine or podiatry provided through telemedicine technologies. A physician or podiatrist solely providing services using telemedicine technologies shall make documentation of the encounter easily available to the patient, and subject to the patient’s consent, to any identified care provider of the patient.
(1) A physician or podiatrist who practices medicine to a patient solely through the utilization of telemedicine technologies may not prescribe to that patient any controlled substances listed in Schedule II of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act: Provided, That the prescribing limitations do not apply when a physician is providing treatment to patients who are minors , or if eighteen years of age or older, who are enrolled in a primary or secondary education program who are diagnosed with intellectual or developmental disabilities, neurological disease, Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism, or a traumatic brain injury in accordance with guidelines as set forth by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or the American Academy of Pediatrics: Provided, however, That the physician must maintain records supporting the diagnosis and the continued need of treatment.
(2) A physician or podiatrist may not prescribe any pain-relieving controlled substance listed in Schedules II through V of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act as part of a course of treatment for chronic nonmalignant pain solely based upon a telemedicine encounter.
(3) A physician or health care provider may not prescribe any drug with the intent of causing an abortion. The term “abortion” has the same meaning ascribed to it in section two, article two-f, chapter sixteen of this code.
(3) Providing medical assistance in the event of an emergency situation.
The West Virginia Board of Medicine and West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine may propose joint rules for legislative approval in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement standards for and limitations upon the utilization of telemedicine technologies in the practice of medicine and podiatry in this state.
Nothing in this section changes the rights, duties, privileges, responsibilities and liabilities incident to the physician-patient or podiatrist-patient relationship, nor is it meant or intended to change in any way the personal character of the physician-patient or podiatrist-patient relationship. This section does not alter the scope of practice of any health care provider or authorize the delivery of health care services in a setting, or in a manner, not otherwise authorized by law.
Upon a determination of the board that there is probable cause to believe that any person, partnership, corporation, association, insurance company, professional society, or other organization has failed or refused to make a report required by this subsection, the board shall provide written notice to the alleged violator stating the nature of the alleged violation and the time and place at which the alleged violator shall appear to show good cause why a civil penalty should not be imposed. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with §29A-5-1 et seq. of this code. After reviewing the record of the hearing, if the board determines that a violation of this subsection has occurred, the board shall assess a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 against the violator. The board shall notify any person so assessed of the assessment in writing and the notice shall specify the reasons for the assessment. If the violator fails to pay the amount of the assessment to the board within 30 days, the Attorney General may institute a civil action in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County to recover the amount of the assessment. In any civil action, the court’s review of the board’s action shall be conducted in accordance with §29A-5-4 of this code. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, when there are conflicting views by recognized experts as to whether any alleged conduct breaches an applicable standard of care, the evidence must be clear and convincing before the board may find that the physician or podiatrist has demonstrated a lack of professional competence to practice with a reasonable degree of skill and safety for patients.
Any person may report to the board relevant facts about the conduct of any physician or podiatrist in this state which in the opinion of that person amounts to medical professional liability or professional incompetence.
(d) Notice of certificate of authorization to Secretary of State. – When the board issues a certificate of authorization to a medical or podiatry corporation, then the board shall notify the Secretary of State that a certificate of authorization has been issued. When the Secretary of State receives a notification from the board, he or she shall attach that certificate of authorization to the corporation application and, upon compliance by the corporation with the pertinent provisions of this code, shall notify the incorporators that the medical or podiatry corporation, through licensed physicians or licensed podiatrists, may engage in the practice of medicine and surgery or the practice of podiatry in West Virginia.
(e) Authorized practice of medical or podiatry corporation. – An authorized medical corporation may only practice medicine and surgery through individual physicians licensed to practice medicine and surgery in this state. An authorized podiatry corporation may only practice podiatry through individual podiatrists licensed to practice podiatry in this state. Physicians or podiatrists may be employees rather than shareholders of a medical or podiatry corporation, and nothing herein requires a license for or other legal authorization of, any individual employed by a medical or podiatry corporation to perform services for which no license or other legal authorization is otherwise required.
(f) Renewal of certificate of authorization. – A medical or podiatry corporation holding a certificate of authorization shall register biennially, on or before the expiration date on its certificate of authorization, on a form prescribed by the board, and pay a biennial fee. If a medical or podiatry corporation does not timely renew its certificate of authorization, then its certificate of authorization automatically expires.
(g) Renewal for expired certificate of authorization. – A medical or podiatry corporation whose certificate of authorization has expired may reapply for a certificate of authorization by submitting a new application and application fee in conformity with subsection (b) or (c) of this section.
(j) Notice to Secretary of State. – Within thirty days of the expiration, revocation or suspension of a certificate of authorization by the board, the board shall submit written notice to the Secretary of State.
(l) Application of section. – Nothing in this section is meant or intended to change in any way the rights, duties, privileges, responsibilities and liabilities incident to the physician-patient or podiatrist-patient relationship, nor is it meant or intended to change in any way the personal character of the physician-patient or podiatrist-patient relationship.
(m) Court evidence. – A certificate of authorization issued by the board to a corporation to practice medicine and surgery or podiatry in this state that has not expired, been revoked or suspended is admissible in evidence in all courts of this state and is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(n) Penalties. – Any officer, shareholder or employee of a medical or podiatry corporation who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000 per violation.
Acts, 2014 Reg. Sess., Ch. 142.
The practice of medicine and surgery by persons possessing the degree of doctor of osteopathy and authorized by the laws of this state to practice medicine and surgery shall in no way be affected by the provisions of this article.
The West Virginia Board of Medicine may employ investigators, attorneys, clerks and administrative staff in collaboration with the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine to share duties and functions between the two boards when it may be efficient and practical for the functioning of the boards. Any sharing of staff or staff resources shall be documented and performed pursuant to the provisions of section nineteen, article one of this chapter.

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