Sec. 16184.

(1) An individual who is retired from engaging in the active practice of a health profession and who wishes to donate his or her expertise for the health care and treatment of indigent and needy individuals in this state or for the health care and treatment of individuals in medically underserved areas of this state may obtain a special volunteer license to engage in the practice of the health profession from which he or she is retired by submitting an application to the board under this section. An applicant shall submit an application for a special volunteer license on a form provided by the department and shall include each of the following:

(a) Documentation that the individual has been previously licensed to engage in the practice of a health profession in this state and that his or her license was in good standing at the time his or her license expired.

(b) Acknowledgment and documentation that the applicant will not receive any payment or compensation, either direct or indirect, or have the expectation of any payment or compensation, for any health care and treatment services provided under the special volunteer license.

(c) If the applicant has been out of practice for 3 or more years, documentation that, during the 3 years immediately preceding the application, he or she has attended at least 2/3 of the continuing education courses or programs required for that health profession under this article or any rules promulgated under this article for the renewal of a license for that health profession.

(2) If the board determines that the application of the individual satisfies the requirements of subsection (1) and that the individual meets the requirements for a license under this article and rules promulgated under this article, the board shall grant a special volunteer license to the applicant. A licensee seeking renewal under this section shall provide the board with an updated acknowledgment and documentation as described in subsection (1)(b). Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the board shall not charge a fee for the issuance or renewal of a special volunteer license under this section.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an individual who is granted a special volunteer license under this section and who accepts the privilege of engaging in the practice of a health profession in this state is subject to all of the provisions of this article applicable to that health profession, including those provisions concerning continuing education and disciplinary action.

(4) For purposes of this section, an individual is considered retired from engaging in the practice of a health profession if the individual's license has expired with the individual's intention of ceasing to engage, for remuneration, in the practice of the health profession.

(5) An individual who is granted a special volunteer license under this section shall only engage in activities within the scope of practice of the health profession for which he or she was licensed before his or her retirement.

(6) As used in this section and section 16185, "health profession" means a health profession for which an individual must be licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized under article 15 to practice in this state.

History: Add. 2006, Act 24, Imd. Eff. Feb. 16, 2006 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 591, Imd. Eff. Jan. 3, 2007 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 4, Imd. Eff. Feb. 7, 2012 ;-- Am. 2013, Act 171, Imd. Eff. Nov. 18, 2013 Popular Name: Act 368