State Medical Board Teleconference Meeting Notice: The Alaska State Medical Board will be holding a Teleconference September 17, 2020 at 4 p.m. Agenda Please email medicalboard@alaska.gov for Zoom meeting information. PDMP Announcement: An enhancement feature was enabled that sent notices to users stating their accounts were deactivated. If you received this notice, first try to log into you PDMP account. If you had a pending account (did not yet have access) and were deactivated, it is not necessary to re-register. If you are unable to log in, please send an email to akpdmp@alaska.gov. We are working with our vendor to resolve this issue. WARNING: Callers Posing as Law Enforcement The State of Alaska DCCED Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing is warning the public and professional licensees about criminals posing as Professional Board investigators or other law enforcement personnel as part as an scheme to defraud professional licensees. The licensees targeted in this scheme are those who hold a healthcare license and a DEA registration. The criminals will call the victims (who in most cases are professional licensees in the State of Alaska), and advise them that their professional license is suspended because they are suspected of drug trafficking on the Texas-Mexico Border or some other location. They will further inform the licensee’s that they are the main suspect of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) drug trafficking investigation. The licensee’s professional license number and DEA registration number will be verified by the criminal asking the victim a series of questions. Impersonators will generally threaten the victim with arrest and to serve time in jail if they do not cooperate with the “investigation” and agree to pay a fine or bond. The State of Alaska DCCED/CBPL Investigations unit will never call a member of the public or a licensee demanding money. Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be a State of Alaska Professional Licensing Board Investigator or other law enforcement official seeking money should refuse the demand and report the contact to the FBI, DEA, their local law enforcement agency or contact the Division Investigations Unit at 907-269-8124 or email investigations@alaska.gov. Continuing Medical Education Update: On May 14, 2020, the State Medical Board approved a fifty percent reduction of CME requirements for MD, DO, DPM and paramedics for the 2019-2020 licensing period. Physician assistants must maintain a current active NCCPA certification to qualify for renewal. Additional clarification regarding paramedic CME will be posted following the Board’s August 20-21 meeting. The CME Reduction Board Order is posted on the Board Guidelines & Policies Webpage. For additional information visit our Frequently Asked Questions Webpage. Adopted Emergency Regulations Notice: On May 7, 2020, the State Medical Board adopted emergency regulations, changes in Title 12, Chapter 40 of the Alaska Administrative Code. The regulations concern telemedicine. The emergency regulations took effect May 5, 2020. On July 23, 2020, the State Medical Board adopted the emergency regulation changes as permanent. The permanent emergency regulations were reviewed and approved by the Department of Law, signed and filed by the Lieutenant Governor (or designee) on August 21, 2020, and are effective September 20, 2020. See the attached copy of the filed permanent emergency regulations below. The regulation changes will be printed in Register 235, October 2020 of the Alaska Administrative Code. Permanent Emergency Regulations COVID-19 MANDATES AND GUIDANCE: The governor has issued a mandate or the board has issued guidance for this program. Please click here to read how this may affect you. The State Medical Board is staffed by the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. The board consists of five physicians, one physician assistant, and two public members. Board members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature. The Board adopts regulations to carry out the laws governing the practice of medicine in Alaska. It makes final licensing decisions and takes disciplinary action against people who violate the licensing laws. The board meets four times a year and offers a public comment period at each meeting. Meeting agendas and minutes are available from the executive administrator. Professions Regulated by the Board Osteopath Paramedic Physician Physician Assistant Podiatrist Opioid Education Requirement New applicants and existing licensees with a DEA registration must earn a minimum of 2 hours of education in pain management and opioid use and addiction. A two hour education course (equivalent to a continuing medical education course) is required to qualify for a new license for a physician, podiatrist, physician assistant, or mobile intensive care paramedic. Courses must be Category 1 of AMA-approved education, or category 1 or 2 or AOA-approved education. For a podiatrist, it may instead be earned in a CPME-approved continuing medical education program. For a physician assistant, it may instead be earned in a NCCPA-approved continuing medical education program). Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) All Alaska-licensed practitioners with a DEA registration must register with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) and must use the PDMP to review a patient’s prescription history each time before prescribing a federally scheduled II or III controlled substance. See the FAQs for links and detailed information about PDMP registration, and fees and other requirements. Proposed Regulations FAQs: Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) Controlled Substance Prescription Database Registration Fees PDMP Registration Requirements for Prescribers and Pharmacists Comprehensive Guide to PDMP Requirements and Effective Dates PDMP Web Page: Register | Sign In | Submit Data | Find Information Joint Committee on Prescriptive Guidelines Report to Alaska State Legislature Learn more about reducing addiction at: Opioids.Alaska.Gov Applying for a license? Initial applications are currently screened within 25 days of receipt in our office. Applicants will receive monthly email updates listing any expected documentation that has not been received. Renewal of licensure is available online during the open renewal period. If your license has lapsed, you may download a paper application from this site. The Alaska State Medical Board accepts documents provided by the Federation of State Medical Boards credentials verification service, which may speed the application processing time. Please visit the FCVS website for more information. Statutes and Regulations Alaska Statutes are passed by the Legislature. Regulations (also called the Alaska Administrative Code) are rules adopted by the board to implement, interpret, and make specific the statutes. Both statutes and regulations have the force of law. AS 08.64 and regulations 12 AAC 40 specifically govern the practice of medicine. AS 08.01 - 08.03 and regulations 12 AAC 02 apply to all professions regulated by the division. Proposed regulations are advertised in Alaska newspapers and we invite public comment on them. If you would like to receive notice of proposed regulations, please write to the regulations specialist and request that your name be added to the Medical interested parties list. Please advise us if you move or wish your name removed from the mailing list. State Medical Board Statutes and Regulations AS 08.64 and 12 AAC 40. Centralized Licensing Statutes AS 08.01-08.03. Applies to all professions. Centralized Licensing Regulations 12 AAC 02 Fees, name and address changes, examinations review, general provisions. Applies to all professions. Contact Information Direct all licensing communications to: Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing PO Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99801-0806 Phone: (907) 465-2781 Fax: (907) 465-2974 E-mail: medicalboard@alaska.gov Direct all board communications to: State Medical Board P.O. Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806 Phone: (907) 465-6243 E-mail: medicalboard@alaska.gov Direct all investigative communications to: Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing Investigations Unit 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1500, Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 269-8124 E-mail: investigations@alaska.gov