Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 243 CMR - BOARD OF REGISTRATION IN MEDICINE › Title 243 CMR 2.00 - Licensing and the practice of medicine › Part 1 - LICENSING › Section 2.06 - License Renewals

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1)
Two-year Licensing Period for Full, Administrative or Volunteer Licenses
. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, § 2, a licensee must renew his full, administrative or volunteer license every two years. Time shall be calculated according to the two year licensing period for the licensee, beginning on the date the license was issued or renewed by the Board and ending on the following renewal date.
(2)
Requirements for Renewing a Full, Administrative or Volunteer License
. In order to renew a full, administrative or volunteer license, a licensee must meet the prerequisite requirements in 243 CMR 2.02(1), except as otherwise provided, and the following renewal requirements:
(a)
Timely Submission
. A licensee must submit to the Board a completed renewal application form and the proper fee prior to the renewal date. A license that has not been renewed expires at 11:59 P.M. on the renewal date.
(b)
Completed Continuing Medical Education Requirements
. A licensee must fulfill his or her continuing medical education requirement as defined in 243 CMR 2.06(5) or obtain a waiver from the Board pursuant to 243 CMR 2.06(5)(e).
(c)
Effect of Suspension
. A licensee may not renew a license during a period of suspension.
(d)
Proficiency in EHR
. A renewing full licensee shall establish competency in the use of electronic health records (EHR). Electronic health record systems include computerized physician order entry, e-prescribing and other health information systems.
1.
Demonstrating EHR Proficiency
. A renewing full licensee must demonstrate proficiency in the use of electronic health records (EHR), as required by M.G.L. c. 112, § 2. A renewing full licensee shall demonstrate proficiency in the use of EHR once, and in one of the following ways:
a. Participation in a Meaningful Use program as an eligible professional;
b. Employment with, credentialed to provide patient care at, or in a contractual agreement with an eligible hospital or critical access hospital that has implemented an electronic health records program;
c. Participation, as either a Participant or Authorized User, in the Massachusetts Health Information Highway; or
d. Completion of three hours of a Category 1 EHR-related CME course that discusses, at a minimum, the core and menu objectives and the CQMs for Meaningful Use. These three EHR credits may be used toward the required ten risk management CME credits.
2.
Waiver of the EHR Proficiency Requirement
. For purposes of 243 CMR 2.06, a waiver means an extension of time with which to demonstrate EHR Proficiency. A licensee may apply to the Board for a waiver of the EHR Proficiency requirement.
a. The Board may, in its discretion, grant a 90-day waiver of the EHR Proficiency requirement due to undue hardship in meeting the requirement.
b. The licensee must submit the waiver request to the Board no later than 30 days prior to the license renewal date. Only in exceptional circumstances shall the Board permit a licensee to file a waiver request less than 30 days prior to the licensee's renewal date.
c. The Board may extend the validity of the applicant's license through the period of the waiver.
3.
Exemptions
. Exemptions must be claimed each licensing cycle, if applicable. The following are exempt from the requirement to demonstrate EHR Proficiency:
a. A licensee who is not engaged in the practice of medicine as defined in 243 CMR 2.01(4);
b. An Administrative licensee;
c. A Volunteer licensee;
d. An Inactive licensee;
e. An applicant for any license who is on active duty as a member of the National Guard or of a uniformed service called into service during a national emergency or crisis;
f. An Emergency Restricted licensee; or
g. An applicant who has already demonstrated proficiency under 243 CMR 2.02(2)(f)  or 2.06(2)(d).
(e)
Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Training
. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, § 264, applicants and licensees shall participate in Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Training once as a condition for licensure, renewal, revival or reinstatement of licensure. The Board, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, will identify programs or courses of study that meet the standards required by this provision and provide its licensees with a list of such programs or courses. This is a one-time training requirement.
(f)
MassHealth Requirement
. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, §§ 2 and 9, applicants and licensees shall apply to participate in MassHealth, either as a provider of services or as a non-billing provider for the limited purpose of ordering and referring services in the MassHealth program, as a condition of licensure, renewal, revival or reinstatement of licensure.
(g)
Child Abuse and Neglect Training
. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 119, § 51A(k), applicants and licensees shall complete training in recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect. Physicians may comply with the training requirement by: completing a hospital-sponsored training program in recognizing the signs of child abuse and neglect; completing CME in identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect; completing a Board-approved online training program or completing a specialized certification. This is a one-time training requirement.