TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
BOARD OF MEDICINE
Initial Agency Notice
Title of Regulation: 18VAC85-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Podiatry, and Chiropractic.
Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Name of Petitioner: Rupal D. Shah.
Nature of Petitioner's Request: To amend 18VAC85-20-140 which requires all parts of the USMLE examination to be completed within 10 years, by allowing an exception in certain circumstances.
Agency's Plan for Disposition of Request: In accordance with Virginia law, the petition has been filed with the Register of Regulations and will be published on August 13, 2012, and posted on the Virginia Regulatory Townhall at www.townhall.virginia.gov. Comment on the petition will be received until September 7, 2012.
Following receipt of all comments on the petition to amend regulations, the board will decide whether to make any changes to the regulatory language in 18VAC85-20-140. This matter will be on the board's agenda for its meeting on October 25, 2012.
Public Comment Deadline: September 7, 2012.
Agency Contact: Elaine J. Yeatts, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4688, FAX (804) 527-4434, or email elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov.
VA.R. Doc. No. R12-32; Filed July 19, 2012, 1:14 p.m.
BOARD OF NURSING
Agency Decision
Title of Regulation: 18VAC90-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing.
Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.
Name of Petitioner: Timothy Jankiewicz.
Nature of Petitioner's Request: To amend regulations for nursing education programs to require coursework in organ donation.
Agency Decision: Request denied.
Statement of Reason for Decision: At its meeting on July 17, 2012, the Board of Nursing deliberated on the matter and decided to reject the request for an amendment. While all members support education in organ donation, it was their belief that there were more appropriate channels for such education, such as through staff training in hospitals and other health care entities in accordance with protocols for the institution. Further, educators commented that the subject is usually included in nursing education as part of training on transplant and other topics.
Agency Contact: Elaine J. Yeatts, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4688, or email elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov.
VA.R. Doc. No. R12-22; Filed July 17, 2012, 2:21 p.m.
BOARD OF SOCIAL WORK
Agency Decision
Title of Regulation: 18VAC140-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Social Work.
Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Name of Petitioner: Sarah Carter.
Nature of Petitioner's Request: To amend regulations for licensure by endorsement to allow social workers from other jurisdictions to provide "verification of active practice in another jurisdiction for 36 out of the past 60 months"; or verification of active practice in another jurisdiction for 36 months at any time, plus verification that the applicant has completed 30 contact hours of continuing education in the 12 months preceding the application for licensure.
Agency Decision: Request denied.
Statement of Reason for Decision: At its meeting on July 20, 2012, the board considered the petition and comments. Rather than initiating a new regulatory action, which would necessitate a lengthy process, the board decided to consider the request during the comment period on the proposed regulations that are currently under review in the Governor's office. Since 18VAC140-20-45 on licensure by endorsement has already been amended in the proposal, it would be possible for the board to further amend that section during the adoption of a final regulation.
Agency Contact: Elaine J. Yeatts, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4688, or email elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov.
VA.R. Doc. No. R12-21; Filed July 20, 2012, 1:58 p.m.