ARIZONA BOARD OF OSTEOPATHIC EXAMINERS
IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY
Revised (April 19, 2022, 2:23 pm)
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey Ends COVID-19 Emergency Declaration - March 30, 2022
If you have questions that do not appear in this FAQ, please email questions@azdo.gov .
COVID-19 INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
• Arizona Governor’s Executive Orders
• Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)
• ADHS's Guidance for Healthcare Providers & Long-term Care Facilities
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Prescribing Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir: How to Recognize and Manage Drug–Drug Interactions
• COVID-19 HOTLINE (FOR PATIENTS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS): 1-844-542-8201
- Alcoholics Anonymous Resource Center for Arizona
- Update on COVID-19 Vaccine
- COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
- COVID-19 Vaccine & Allergic Reactions - Second Dose
- COVID-19 Antibody Testing for Health Care Workers
- AZDHS and CDC Guidance on Isolation and Return to work for patients
- KEEPING PERSONNEL SAFE
- LICENSING
- Medical Volunteer
- Executive Order 2020-32 - Requesting Exemption from Executive Order 2020-10 “Elective Surgeries”
- Executive Order 2020-27 - The “Good Samaritan” Order
- GENERAL FAQs
- Executive Order 2020-23 - Enhanced Surveillance Advisory COVID-19
- DISPENSING PRESCRIPTIONS IN COMPLIANCE WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-20
- MEDICATION LIMITATIONS
- WORKING BY REMOTE ACCESS
- Guidance on use of PPE
- MEDICATION DELIVERY
- Fingerprinting
- CME:
- Governor’s Office Clarifies CRNA Opt-Out Letter:
- Governor’s Press Release on Antibody Tests For Health Professionals and First Responders
- FSMB STATEMENT ON WEARING FACE COVERINGS DURING PATIENT CARE
- Additionally Information from the NBOME on applying for Residency
- Provider Bridge
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine distribution process
Physicians are still able to sign up as a COVID-19 vaccine provider.
The CDC reported that Vaccines for Children (VFC) vaccine orders are down by 11.7 million doses compared with 2019, and the data on missed adult doses is even higher.
Arizona Department of Health Services (AzDHS) will transition from the large-scale COVID-19 vaccine pods (Point-of-Distribution) to county-based smaller community-based pods at the end of June.
AzDHS are urging that patients need to start returning to their primary care for routine vaccines and well-visits.
Download the following for more information about the ADHS onboarding process, ordering vaccine in ASIIS, and COVID-19 vaccine trainings.
- Arizona Department of Health Services Pandemic Vaccine Provider Onboarding Tool
- How to Place an Order in ASIIS
- COVID-19 Vaccine Training Tool
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for anyone age 12+. Clinical trials are still underway for other vaccines and for ages 6 months+.
- CDC’s recommendation includes administering COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other routine vaccines.
- The state and county clinics are already vaccinating individuals age 12+ and are encouraging patients to check in with their primary care provider for other vaccines and well-care visits.
- Moderna vaccine can be ordered directly from ASIIS, similar to how VFC vaccines are ordered, with Pfizer and J&J available in ASIIS soon.
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine
We encourage you to reach out to your county health departments for vaccine distribution in your area.
COVID-19 Vaccine & Allergic Reactions - Second Dose
It is more common to have an increased immune response (side effects/symptoms) after the 2nd dose of COVID-19 vaccine than the first since the body is responding to foreign material that it has already seen. It can be hard to tease out COVID-19 vaccine side effects from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection since both can produce systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, myalgia, and arthralgia.
You may get questions about this from individuals who recently received their COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC has a Post Vaccine Considerations for Healthcare Personnel webpage that demonstrates the thought process of considering if a person is just having post-vaccination symptoms or if an infection should be considered.
Highlights include the following:
- About 55–83% of people develop at least one systemic symptom following vaccination.
- Most systemic post-vaccination signs and symptoms are mild to moderate in severity, occur within the first three days of vaccination (the day of vaccination and following two days, with most occurring the day after vaccination), resolve within 1-2 days of onset, and are more frequent and severe following the second dose and among younger persons compared to those who are older (>55 years).
- In contrast, cough, shortness of breath, rhinorrhea, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell are not consistent with post-vaccination symptoms, and instead may be symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 or another infection.
- If any of these latter symptoms occur after vaccination, SARS-CoV-2 should be considered and evaluated for.
- Also, if systemic symptoms persist longer than is usual after vaccination, another cause should be looked for.
- Ultimately, clinical judgement should be used to determine the likelihood of infection versus post-vaccination symptoms and the indicated clinical approach.
For complete information about this CDC update, please refer to the following sources:
- COVID-19 Vaccines and Allergic Reactions
- Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States
COVID-19 Antibody Testing for Health Care Workers
KEEPING PERSONNEL SAFE
• CDC’s Personnel Recommendations
• ADHS’s Healthcare Personnel Handout
• CDC’s Information for Healthcare Professionals
LICENSING
Q: I am licensed in another state as a Osteopathic Physician without any discipline. Can I receive a temporary license in Arizona to help? How can I help the residents of Arizona?
A: The Board has several options to apply for a license.
- A.R.S.§32-1834 - allows for an applicant to request a 250 day temporary license when applying for a full license. The form for a 250 day temporary license can be included with your application for licensure. The form can be found on the Board’s website here.
Medical Volunteer
Q: COVID-19 is a crisis and I want to help. How can I help?
A: Thank you so much for your willingness to help amid the crisis. At the direction of the Dept. of Health Services, at this time one way in which you can help is to register with Arizona Disasters Healthcare Volunteers.
This is an organization that is currently mobilizing due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Here is their website:
https://esar-vhp.health.azdhs.gov/
Executive Order 2020-27 - The “Good Samaritan” Order
GENERAL FAQs
COVID-19 Emergency and Pricing
Governor Ducey issued Executive Order 2020-07 on March 10, 2020. The Executive Order states that the licensing Boards shall investigate all complaints of “price gouging” or a provider or institution charging a price grossly higher than that price that was in effect prior to the emergency.
COVID-19 Treatment and Malpractice Concerns
All questions regarding treatment and COVID-19 should be directed to the Arizona Dept of Health Service Website or the DHS COVID-19 hotline: 1-844-542-8201.
If you have questions about malpractice concerns you should speak with an attorney as Board staff is prohibited from providing legal advice.
Q: Can a clinic change hours of operation?
A: Yes, a clinic may adjust the hours of operations. Please make sure to post the hours and properly notify your patients.
Guidance on use of PPE
• Healthcare Supply of Personal Protective Equipment
• FDA’s Surgical Mask and Gown Conservation Strategies - Letter to Healthcare Providers
• USP Guidance on PPE and Garb Shortages
Fingerprinting
- What are the fingerprinting options for physicians for licensure since several states are closing fingerprinting at police stations?
At this time, you must submit a standard FD-258 (REV.3-1-10) Card or a digitally printed fingerprint card on Form FD-258 is also acceptable. The ORI, OCA, Employer and Address, and Reason Fingerprinted must be left blank. Please refer to the Board’s instruction sheet on Fingerprint for your use and submission.
- Does AZ allow for Livescan printing? If only in-state livescan is allowed, has AZ temporarily lifted this requirement to allow out of state livescan?
Livescan is acceptable if the fingerprints are then digitally printed on a Form FD-258 card. There is not a restriction on in-state or out-of-state Livescan.
- Will AZ be lifting the background check requirement so that the physicians can be licensed during this time?
No changes have been made to the fingerprint process at this time.
- What other options are there to get fingerprints?
Local police departments, sheriff’s offices, Departments of Public Safety and some private agencies offer this service.
CME:
Q: Since all AOA conventions have been cancelled this year due to COVID-19, will there be CME exceptions for the upcoming renewal?
A:The Board accepts CME courses completed online. If you believe you need an exemption you will need to contact the Board during the renewal period. You are strongly encouraged to find online CME courses in the interim to complete your renewal process.
Governor’s Office Clarifies CRNA Opt-Out Letter:
On March 23, Governor Ducey sent a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma requesting that Arizona be exempt from the requirement that CRNAs be supervised by a physician. Under federal law, one of the requirements in making such a request is that it be in accordance with existing state law. After concerns were raised by ArMA members that the Governor’s letter would expand the scope of practice for CRNAs, the ArMA advocacy team contacted the Governor’s Senior Policy Advisor Christina Corieri. She confirmed in writing that the Arizona law stating that a CRNA may only “administer anesthetics under the direction of and in the presence of a physician or surgeon” remains in full effect.
Clarifying further, Ms. Corieri indicated the Governor’s letter seeking to opt out of the supervision requirement was intended to reconcile CMS with Arizona's “direction and presence” standard, but specifically reiterated that “nowhere in [the CMS] letter or anywhere else” has the Governor waived Arizona law (A.R.S. 32-1634.04) establishing scope of practice for CRNAs.
