October 22, 2024
Georgia Composite Medical Board Announces Emergency Practice Permits for Hurricane Response
October 21, 2024
The Georgia Composite Medical Board announces emergency rule 360-2-0.16-.13 to approve and issue “emergency practice permits” to physicians who wish to practice medicine in Georgia during and for a specified time period after Georgia Governor Kemp’s declared state of emergency responses to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
As a response to the current state of emergency as declared by the Governor, the Georgia Composite Medical Board finds the potential for imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare. This emergency rule 360-2-0.16-.13, shall go into effect based on O.C.G.A. 50-13-4(b) and shall be effective for the duration of the emergency and for a period of not more than 120 days thereafter. During the time this rule is effective, it shall replace Georgia Composite Medical Board Rule 360-2-.13.
During such time that Georgia is being used as a place of refuge for citizens of neighboring states displaced by an act of God, the Board may waive some of the licensure requirements in order to permit the provision of emergency health services and continuity of care to the displaced citizens.
• An out-of-state physician seeking this permit is only authorized to treat patients from his/her home state with whom the physician has an established patient-physician relationship.
Before practicing medicine in Georgia under this provision, the applicant must receive the Board's approval of the following:
- an application for this emergency practice permit,
- proof of current and unrestricted licensure in another state,
- a current National Practitioner's Data Bank ("NPDB") Report, and
- a copy of a valid government issued photo id.
All permits issued under this paragraph shall be valid for 120 days.
To submit a completed application or for more information about the emergency practice permit, please contact the GCMB’s Director of Licensing, David Harris at [email protected] or 404-463-0591.