Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Medicine intends to consider amending 18VAC85-20, Regulations Governing the Practice of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Podiatry, and Chiropractic. The purpose of the proposed action is to propose regulations for licensure by endorsement for physicians who hold licenses in other states and who meet certain requirements established in regulation. The goal of the planned action is establishment of an expedited process for licensure of qualified physicians who want to practice in Virginia, either in person or by telemedicine.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: February 22, 2017.

Agency Contact: William L. Harp, M.D., Executive Director, Board of Medicine, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233-1463, telephone (804) 367-4621, FAX (804) 527-4429, or email william.harp@dhp.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Nursing intends to consider amending 18VAC90-20, Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing. The purpose of the proposed action is to respond to a petition for rulemaking that requested an amendment to allow use of first name and last initial on a name tag for nurses in all settings. The board's intent is to gather additional information about requirements in other states and from other boards in Virginia and to solicit comment from employers.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: February 22, 2017.

Agency Contact: Jay P. Douglas, R.N., Executive Director, Board of Nursing, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233-1463, telephone (804) 367-4520, FAX (804) 527-4455, or email jay.douglas@dhp.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Long-Term Care Administrators intends to consider amending 18VAC95-20, Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing Home Administrators. The purpose of the proposed action is to protect public health, safety, and welfare and to ensure that the regulation is clearly written and easily understandable. To that end, many of the considered amendments are editorial or intended to clarify existing language. In addition, however, the board intends to (i) include the Health Services Executive (HSE) credential as a qualification for licensure; the HSE is a new credential approved by the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards; (ii) expand the grounds for disciplinary actions or denial of licensure to include causes that would be considered unprofessional conduct but are not explicitly listed in the current regulation; and (iii) adopt causes or grounds for action currently listed in regulations of other boards, such as the Board of Nursing, with the goal of a greater ability to fulfill the mission of public protection by citing more specific grounds for action in disciplinary cases.

This Notice of Intended Regulatory Action serves as the report of the findings of the regulatory review pursuant to § 2.2-4007.1 of the Code of Virginia.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: February 22, 2017.

Agency Contact: Corie Tillman Wolf, Executive Director, Board of Long-Term Care Administrators, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233-1463, telephone (804) 367-4595, FAX (804) 527-4413, or email corie.wolf@dhp.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Physical Therapy intends to consider amending 18VAC112-20, Regulations Governing the Practice of Physical Therapy. The purpose of the proposed action is to decide whether to replace the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy Practice Review Tool, which as of November 30, 2016, is no longer offered, with a self-assessment tool called oPTion that allows physical therapists to compare their knowledge, skills, and abilities to entry-level general physical therapy practice. The oPTion assessment report categorizes the therapist's performance into levels one through four. If this replacement is made, the board will determine if a specific level of performance will be required for the purpose of licensing therapists who have not been engaged in active practice or for granting credit to licensees for continuing education.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: February 22, 2017.

Agency Contact: Corie Tillman Wolf, Executive Director, Board of Physical Therapy, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4674, FAX (804) 527-4413, or email ptboard@dhp.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Counseling intends to consider amending 18VAC115-30, Regulations Governing the Certification of Substance Abuse Counselors and Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants. The purpose of the proposed action is to (i) clarify certain provisions, (ii) add more specific requirements for supervised practice to better ensure accountability and quality in the experience, (iii) add time limits for completion of experience to avoid perpetual supervisees who may continue to practice without passage of an examination and completion of certification, (iv) add requirements for continuing education as a requisite for renewal to ensure on-going competency to practice, and (v) place additional standards of practice in regulation to address issues the board has seen in complaints and disciplinary proceedings and for consistency with other professions in behavioral health.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3505 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: February 22, 2017.

Agency Contact: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, FAX (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.