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
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.
We encourage you to reach out to your county health departments for vaccine distribution in your area.
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:
For complete information about this CDC update, please refer to the following sources:
• CDC’s Personnel Recommendations
• ADHS’s Healthcare Personnel Handout
• CDC’s Information for Healthcare Professionals
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.
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/
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.
• 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
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.
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.
No changes have been made to the fingerprint process at this time.
Local police departments, sheriff’s offices, Departments of Public Safety and some private agencies offer this service.
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.
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.