S.Amdt. 1672

1. Adds SEC. __. WAIVER OF LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS wherever appropriate

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. __. WAIVER OF LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an eligible health professional may provide health-related services under the medicare, medicaid, or SCHIP program under title XVIII, XIX, or XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq., 1396 et seq., and 1397 et seq.), regardless of the licensing or certification laws of the State in which such services are being provided, during the 90-day period that begins on the date of enactment of this Act.

   Inserted: (b) Eligible Health Professional.--To be eligible to provide health-related services in a State during the period referred to in subsection (a) without State licensure or certification, a health professional shall--

   Inserted: (1) be a physician, nurse, dentist, pharmacist, mental health professional, or allied health profession, or any other professional determined appropriate by the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

   Inserted: (2) have a valid license from, or be certified in, at least one of the States affected by Hurricane Katrina, as described in subsection (c), and not be affirmatively barred from practicing in that State; and

   Inserted: (3) have applied for a license or certification in the State in which such professional will provide the health-related services under subsection (a) without State licensure or certification.

   Inserted: (c) States Described.--The States described in this subsection are those States covered by the declarations of the President, pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, on August 24, 2005 (Florida), on August 29, 2005 (Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi), and on September 2, 2005 (Texas), all due to Hurricane Katrina.

   Inserted: (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering or affecting any procedures adopted by State health professional licensing or certification boards relating to waivers of licensing and certification requirements for health professionals affected by Hurricane Katrina.

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   Original wording

   At the appropriate place, insert the following:

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As printed