§ 3054 — Scope of telehealth license and telehealth registration

(a) Telehealth license.
(1) A health care professional who is not otherwise licensed, certified, or registered to practice in Vermont may obtain a telehealth license to provide health care services using telehealth to a total of not more than 20 unique patients or clients located in Vermont during the two-year license term.
(2) To be eligible to obtain a telehealth license under this chapter, a health care professional shall:
(A) complete an application in a format and with such content as prescribed by the Office or the Board;
(B) hold an active, unencumbered license, certificate, or registration in good standing in any other U.S. jurisdiction to practice the health care profession that the professional seeks to practice in Vermont using telehealth and provide verification of the license, registration, or certificate to the Office or the Board if required by the profession;
(C) if required by the rules adopted by the Office or the Board pursuant to section 3061 of this chapter, submit a copy of a mandatory disclosure that conforms to the requirements established by rule;
(D) if required by the rules adopted by the Office or the Board pursuant section 3061 of this chapter, provide documentation of professional liability coverage or financial responsibility that includes coverage or financial responsibility for services provided by telehealth to patients or clients not located in the health care professional’s home state in an amount established by rule;
(E) provide any other information and documentation of qualifications required by the Office or the Board by rule; and
(F) pay the required telehealth licensure fee, which shall be 75 percent of the renewal fee for the profession as set forth in 3 V.S.A. § 125 or in the applicable chapter of this title.
(3) A health care professional may renew a telehealth license every two years upon application and payment of the required fee. A license that has expired shall be reinstated upon payment of the biennial renewal fee and the late renewal penalty, which shall be 75 percent of the late renewal penalty established in 3 V.S.A. § 127 or in section 1401a of this title, as applicable.
(b) Telehealth registration.
(1) A health care professional who is not otherwise licensed, certified, or registered to practice in Vermont may obtain a telehealth registration to provide health care services using telehealth:
(A) for a period of not more than 120 consecutive days from the date the registration was issued; and
(B) to a total of not more than 10 unique patients or clients over the 120-day period that the registration is in effect.
(2) To be eligible to obtain a telehealth registration under this chapter, a health care professional shall:
(A) complete an application in a format and with such content as prescribed by the Office or the Board;
(B) hold an active, unencumbered license, certificate, or registration in good standing in any other U.S. jurisdiction to practice the health care profession that the professional seeks to practice in Vermont using telehealth and provide verification of the license, registration, or certificate to the Office or the Board if required by the profession;
(C) if required by the rules adopted by the Office or the Board pursuant to section 3061 of this chapter, submit a copy of a mandatory disclosure that conforms to the requirements established by rule; and
(D) pay the required telehealth registration fee, which shall be the lesser of:
(i) 50 percent of the renewal fee for the profession as set forth in 3 V.S.A. § 125 or in the applicable chapter of this title; or
(ii) the application fee for a full license for the profession as set forth in 3 V.S.A. § 125 or in the applicable chapter of this title.
(3) A health care professional may only reactivate a telehealth registration once every three years. A telehealth registration shall not be renewed or reactivated upon expiration.
(c) Other license or registration. A health care professional seeking to provide health care services to a patient or client located in Vermont using telehealth may register or apply for a full license to practice the profession in this State in accordance with the applicable provisions of this title. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a qualified health care professional from registering or obtaining a full license to practice in Vermont in accordance with relevant laws.
(d) Transition to licensure; fee credit.
(1) If a health care professional holding a telehealth registration issued pursuant to this chapter elects to apply for a telehealth license or a full license while the professional’s telehealth registration is in effect or within three years following the effective date of the professional’s telehealth registration, the amount of the fee paid by the health care professional for the telehealth registration pursuant to subdivision (b)(2)(D) of this section shall be credited and applied toward the amount of the relevant telehealth license under subdivision (a)(2)(F) of this section if the professional is seeking a telehealth license or the application fee for a full license for the profession as set forth in 3 V.S.A. § 125 or in the applicable chapter of this title.
(2) If a health care professional holding a telehealth license issued pursuant to this chapter elects to apply for a full license while the professional’s telehealth license is in effect, the amount of the fee paid by the health care professional for the telehealth license pursuant to subdivision (a)(2)(F) of this section shall be credited and applied toward the amount of the application fee for a full license for the profession as set forth in 3 V.S.A. § 125 or in the applicable chapter of this title. (Added 2021, No. 107 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2023.)