Law Number

Utah Code Ann. 26A-1-126

Summary Title

Scope of Practice and License Reciprocity: MRC Volunteer

Summary

A Utah Medical Reserve Corps member trained to respond to emergency situations can either be exempt from Utah licensure requirements or can be entitled to a modified scope of practice, if authorized by the local health department. If the individual does not have a currently active license, they must have held a valid license, in good standing, within the past 10 years before the declared emergency. They must be volunteering for the supervising local health department and must carry a certificate issued by the local health department, exempting them from licensing requirements for the duration of the emergency based on their medical reserve corps membership.

Full Title

Medical reserve corps.

Full Text

(1) In addition to the duties listed in Section 26A-1-114, a local health department may establish a medical reserve corps in accordance with this section. (2) The purpose of a medical reserve corps is to enable a local health authority to respond with appropriate health care professionals to a national, state, or local emergency, a public health emergency as defined in Section 26-23b-102, or a declaration by the president of the United States or other federal official requesting public health related activities. (3) (a) A local health department may train health care professionals who participate in a medical reserve corps to respond to an emergency or declaration for public health related activities pursuant to Subsection (2). (b) When an emergency or request for public health related activities has been declared in accordance with Subsection (2), a local health department may activate a medical reserve corps for the duration of the emergency or declaration for public health related activities. (4) For purposes of this section, a medical reserve corps may include persons who: (a) are licensed under Title 58, Occupations and Professions, and who are operating within the scope of their practice; (b) are exempt from licensure, or operating under modified scope of practice provisions in accordance with Subsections 58-1-307(4) and (5); and (c) within the 10 years preceding the declared emergency, held a valid license, in good standing in Utah, for one of the occupations described in Subsection 58-13-2(1), but the license is not currently active. (5) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections 58-1-307(4)(a) and (5)(b) the local health department may authorize a person described in Subsection (4) to operate in a modified scope of practice as necessary to respond to the declaration under Subsection (2). (b) A person operating as a member of an activated medical reserve corps or training as a member of a medical reserve corps under this section: (i) shall be volunteering for and supervised by the local health department; (ii) shall comply with the provisions of this section; (iii) is exempt from the licensing laws of Title 58, Occupations and Professions; and (iv) shall carry a certificate issued by the local health department which designates the individual as a member of the medical reserve corps during the duration of the emergency or declaration for public health related activities pursuant to Subsection (2). (6) The local department of health may access the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing database for the purpose of determining if a person’s current or expired license to practice in the state was in good standing. (7) The local department of health shall maintain a registry of persons who are members of a medical reserve corps. The registry of the medical reserve corps shall be made available to the public and to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.

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