Losing your medical license is distressing for anyone in the healthcare industry. A state medical board can suspend or revoke a physician’s license after wrongdoing or negligence. It’s possible to reinstate your medical license with time and hard work, and at Norman Spencer Law Group, we have a skilled team of licensed attorneys that can help you through the process. We can walk you through every step you need to complete so you can return to practicing medicine in due time.
Reinstating a Suspended License
Reinstating a medical license depends upon the severity of your case and the state where you acquired it. It also depends on whether or not the license in question was suspended or revoked since both cases have differing procedures surrounding reinstatement. A license reactivation form must be submitted in medical license suspension cases. Completing this form also requires filing other forms, such as proof of ongoing medical requirements, drug abuse reporting requirements, child abuse reporting protocols, etc. You will also need to fill out a National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) query and provide a curriculum vitae spanning the previous ten years of employment. You must also apply for professional liability insurance, which includes state-mandated minimum coverage amounts.
Depending on the state, there will be specifications about how to submit the form. Some states allow electronic submission, while others only accept it through mail or direct delivery. The state medical board also usually requires clinical skill evaluations and mandatory training programs, especially if a long time has passed after a license suspension. On top of these requirements, the board can also apply tailor-made requirements based on your case, which must follow the letter. The board can delay the form or reactivation until your suspension ends or all of your retraining is completed. Reactivation fees vary by state, and the process takes six months to a few years.
Reinstating a Revoked License
If you need to reinstate your medical license because it was revoked, things become a little more complicated with severe penalties to overcome. It is still possible, however. Before you can apply to reinstate a revoked license, there is a mandatory three-year waiting period. After the three-year mark, you must file for a Petition of Reinstatement. To file the petition properly, you must include at least two letters of support from licensed physicians who support your reinstatement and a written narrative explaining that you have been rehabilitated and why you deserve a second chance.
After filing the petition, you will have a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The state medical board attorney will file a Statement of Issues that opposes your reinstatement. The ALJ will hear evidence during the hearing and send a proposed decision to the state medical board. The board has 100 days to accept, change, or deny the decision, though you can appeal.
Showing the board that you have been rehabilitated, retrained, or have learned from your previous mistakes is paramount when filing a Petition of Reinstatement. Any proof of this can make a difference, and letters from supervisors, other physicians, former patients, family members, and friends all count. Also include documents showing that court mandates have been met, mental health provider testimony, certificates of education or rehabilitation, or proof of community service. Much like a suspended license, there are fees involved with reinstating a revoked license, which differ by state. These tend to be more expensive, as a revoked license takes more time to deal with, and the entire ordeal can last several years beyond the mandatory three-year waiting period.
How Our Attorneys Can Help Reinstate Your Medical License
Regardless of whether your license was suspended or revoked, your first order of business before starting reinstatement should be to contact an attorney. This one act can make all of the proceeding steps that much easier. An attorney can help gather all the required documentation for a reactivation application of a Petition of Reinstatement. An attorney can also help you keep track of the critical dates, witnesses, and supplementary documentation and walk you through any board requirements.
A lawyer becomes even more critical if you get a hearing before the state medical board or an ALJ. The hearing is the most crucial step of reinstatement, and having a qualified professional at your side to represent you is vital. Our professional license defense attorneys at Norman Spencer Law Group are very familiar with the particulars of license reinstatement. Do not wait to contact us if you are trying to reinstate your license. We can discuss your case with a free consultation over the phone, via Zoom, email, or even in person.