54-1841. VOLUNTEER’S LICENSE — QUALIFICATIONS. (1) Upon application and qualification, the board may issue, without examination, a volunteer’s license to a physician or physician assistant who is retired from the active practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine to enable the retired physician or physician assistant to provide medical services to persons who, due to age, infirmity, indigence or disability, are unable to receive regular medical treatment.

(2) (a) For purposes of this section, a physician or physician assistant previously holding a license to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine with active status in Idaho or another state shall be considered to be retired if, prior to the date of application for a volunteer’s license:

(i) He has surrendered or allowed his license with active status to expire with the intention of ceasing to actively practice as a physician or physician assistant for remuneration;

(ii) He has converted his license with active status to a license with inactive status with the intention of ceasing to actively practice as a physician or physician assistant for remuneration; or

(iii) He has converted his license with active or inactive status to a license with retirement or similar status that proscribed the active practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine.

(b) A physician or physician assistant whose license had been restricted, suspended, revoked, surrendered, resigned, converted, or allowed to lapse or expire as the result of disciplinary action or in lieu of disciplinary action being taken shall not be eligible for a volunteer’s license.

(3) An application for a volunteer’s license shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Verification of graduation from an acceptable school of medicine or an acceptable osteopathic school of medicine or an acceptable physician assistant program;

(b) Verification from each state board in which the applicant was licensed that the applicant maintained his license in good standing without disciplinary action that restricted the applicant’s license or resulted in the applicant’s license being placed on probation, suspended, revoked or being surrendered, resigned or otherwise allowed to lapse or expire in lieu of disciplinary action;

(c) Verification that the applicant held a license in good standing in Idaho or another state as of the date upon which the physician or physician assistant became retired;

(d) Verification that the applicant held an active status license in good standing in Idaho or another state within five (5) years of the date of application for a volunteer’s license, provided that the board may waive the five (5) year requirement in the event that the applicant demonstrates that he possesses the knowledge and skills requisite to the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine by successfully completing such examinations as are required by the board; and

(e) A notarized statement from the applicant on a form prescribed by the board, that the applicant will not provide any physician or physician assistant services to any person other than those permitted by the license and that the applicant will not accept any amount or form of remuneration, other than as reimbursement for the amount of actual expenses incurred as a volunteer physician or physician assistant, for any physician or physician assistant services provided under the authority of a volunteer’s license.

(4) A volunteer’s license shall be valid for that period specified for physicians or physician assistants in section 54-1808, Idaho Code, and may be renewed upon application of the licensee unless the license has been revoked in accordance with this section. The board shall maintain a register of all physicians or physician assistants who hold a volunteer’s license. The board shall not charge an application or licensing fee for issuing or renewing a volunteer’s license. A volunteer’s license cannot be converted to a license with active, inactive or temporary status.

(5) The board may revoke a volunteer’s license upon receiving proof satisfactory to the board that grounds existed for enforcement or disciplinary action against the holder of a volunteer’s license under other sections of this chapter or the administrative rules promulgated under this chapter.

History:

[54-1841, added 2005, ch. 45, sec. 1, p. 173; am. 2010, ch. 235, sec. 39, p. 574; am. 2019, ch. 26, sec. 30, p. 72.]