The bill seeks to enhance the practice of out-of-state health care practitioners and recent graduates in New Jersey by allowing them to practice while their licensure applications are pending. It amends existing laws to clarify definitions related to telemedicine and telehealth, expanding the definition of "health care provider" to include those with temporary graduate licenses and provisional authorizations, as well as alcohol and drug counselor-interns. A new definition for "provisional authorization to practice" is introduced, enabling out-of-state professionals to work in New Jersey during the processing of their licensure applications. The bill also emphasizes that health care providers must be validly licensed in New Jersey and maintain the same standard of care as in-person services.

Additionally, the legislation outlines requirements for notifying the Division of Consumer Affairs if a professional's authorization to practice in another state is suspended or revoked, imposing a civil penalty of $500 per day for non-compliance. It allows for the use of telemedicine in meeting supervised work experience requirements for certain interns and streamlines the temporary licensing process for recent graduates. The bill also includes provisions for civil penalties related to disciplinary actions in other states, allowing individuals to contest these penalties under specific circumstances. Overall, the bill aims to facilitate the entry of qualified health care professionals into New Jersey's healthcare system while ensuring public safety and regulatory compliance.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 45:1-61, 45:1-62, 45:2D-10, 45:8B-21, 45:8B-46, 45:9-27.13, 45:11-24.2, 45:11-26, 45:11-27, 45:11-47, 45:14-53, 45:14B-20, 45:14BB-10, 45:14E-13, 45:15BB-7