Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a)
Purpose and definitions.
(1)
The following subsections implement the Volunteer Health Services Act (35 P. S.
§§ 449.41-449.50) and provide for the issuance of a volunteer license
to a qualified individual who retires from active practice and seeks to provide
professional services as a volunteer. A volunteer license authorizes the holder
to practice only in an organized community-based clinic without
remuneration.
(2) The following
words and terms, when used in this section, have the following meanings, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Approved clinic-
(i) An organized community-based clinic
offering primary health care services to individuals and families who cannot
pay for their care, to Medical Assistance clients or to residents of medically
underserved areas or health professionals shortage areas.
(ii) The term includes a State health center,
nonprofit community-based clinic and Federally qualified health center, as
designated by Federal rulemaking or as approved by the Department of Health or
the Department of Public Welfare.
Unrestricted license-A license which is
not restricted or limited by order of the Board under its disciplinary
power.
(b)
License. A volunteer license may be issued to a licensee or
certificateholder of the Board who documents to the satisfaction of the Board
that the licensee will practice without personal remuneration in approved
clinics and meets one of the following conditions:
(1) Holds a currently renewed, active,
unrestricted license, registration or certificate in this Commonwealth and
retires from active practice at the time the licensee applies for a volunteer
license.
(2) Retires from the
active practice of dentistry, or as a dental hygienist or as an expanded
function dental assistant in this Commonwealth in possession of an unrestricted
license, registration or certificate which was allowed to lapse by not renewing
it. A retired licensee, registrant or certificateholder shall meet any
requirements of the act or the regulations pertaining to continued education or
continued competency to be eligible for renewal.
(c)
Applications. An
applicant for a volunteer license shall complete an application obtained from
the Board. In addition to providing information requested by the Board, the
applicant shall provide:
(1) An executed
verification on forms provided by the Board certifying that the applicant
intends to practice exclusively:
(i) Without
personal remuneration for professional services.
(ii) In an approved clinic.
(2) A letter signed by the
director or chief operating officer of an approved clinic that the applicant
has been authorized to provide volunteer services in the named clinic by the
governing body or responsible officer of the clinic.
(d)
Validity of license. A
volunteer license shall be valid for the biennial period for which it is
issued, subject to biennial renewal. During each biennial renewal period, the
volunteer license holder shall notify the Board of any change in clinic or
volunteer status within 30 days of the date of the change, or at the time of
renewal, whichever occurs first.
(e)
Biennial renewal. A
volunteer license shall be renewed biennially on forms provided by the Board.
(1) As a condition of biennial renewal, the
applicant shall satisfy the same continuing education requirements as the
holder of an active, unrestricted license.
(2) The applicant shall be exempt from
payment of the biennial renewal fee in §
33.3 (relating to
fees).
(f)
Return
to active practice. A volunteer license holder who desires to return
to active practice shall notify the Board and apply for biennial registration
on forms provided by the Board.
(g)
Disciplinary provisions . A volunteer license holder shall be
subject to the disciplinary provisions of the act and this chapter. Failure of
the licensee to comply with the Volunteer Health Services Act or this section
may also constitute grounds for disciplinary action.
(h)
Permits to administer general
anesthesia, deep sedation, conscious sedation or nitrous oxide/oxygen
analgesia.
(1) A dentist who applies
for a volunteer license under subsection (b) who holds a current permit to
administer anesthetic modalities may also apply for reissuance of an
unrestricted or restricted permit of the type issued to the dentist as an
active licensee under §
33.333 (relating to types of
permits).
(2) A retired dentist who
applies under subsection (b)(1) and (2) for a volunteer license who, within 2
years of the date of application, held an unrestricted permit or a restricted
permit I, may apply for reissuance of the permit, but shall be required to
comply with §
33.336a (relating to requirements
for unrestricted permit and restricted permit I) by completing:
(i) An attestation in accordance with §
33.336a(b).
(ii) ACLS/PALS
certification in accordance with § 33.336a(c).
(iii) Continuing anesthesia education in
accordance with § 33.336a(d).
(3) A retired dentist who applies under
subsection (b)(1) and (2) for a volunteer license who, within 5 years of the
date of application, held a restricted permit II may apply for reissuance of
the permit, but shall be required to comply with §
33.337(b)
(relating to requirements for restricted permit II) by providing:
(i) A statement containing the make, model
and serial number of nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia equipment.
(ii) A certification that the equipment is
properly calibrated, maintained, contains a fail-safe system and is in working
order.
(iii) An attestation that
the applicant has written procedures for handling emergencies.
(4) A dentist who applies for a
volunteer license who does not qualify for a permit under paragraphs (1)-(3)
and who wishes to administer general anesthesia, deep sedation, conscious
sedation or nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia under §
33.332(a)
(relating to requirement of permit to administer general anesthesia, deep
sedation, conscious sedation or nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia) shall satisfy
the educational requirements of §
33.335(a)(1),
§
33.336 or §
33.337(a)
(relating to requirements for unrestricted permit; requirements for restricted
permit I; and requirements for restricted permit II), as applicable.
(5) Volunteer license holders will not be
subject to any fee for the issuance, reissuance or renewal of a permit under
this subsection.
(i)
Supervision. Volunteer dental hygienists shall meet the
supervision requirements of §
33.205(c)(1)
(relating to practice as a dental hygienist). Volunteer expanded function
dental assistants shall meet the supervision requirements of section 2 of the
act (63 P. S. §
121).
The provisions of this §33.110 issued under
section 5 of the Volunteer Health Services Act (35 P. S. §
449.45); and section 3(o) of The Dental Law
(63
P. S. §
122(o));
amended under sections 3(o) and 11.2(a) of The Dental Law (63 P. S.
§§
122(o) and
130c(a)).
