On December 22, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that it issued an Order temporarily suspending the requirements for state licensure, certification or registration of physicians, nurses, and certain behavioral health providers who are licensed elsewhere in the U.S. or the District of Columbia. The Order will expire on February 15, 2022, if the COVID-19 public health emergency in the state is not extended beyond that date.

The Order cites the “significant need for the expansion of the healthcare workforce in Connecticut” and applies to in-person practice as well as telehealth. Telehealth providers are specifically instructed to comply with all requirements of Public Act 21-9. In addition, all out-of-state licensed providers must maintain malpractice insurance as though they were licensed in Connecticut.

Separately, in New York, on December 26 Gov. Hochul issued Executive Order 4.3, extending the “Statewide Disaster Emergency Due to Healthcare Staffing Shortages in the State of New York” for a fourth 30-day period, until January 25, 2022. Gov. Hochul’s Executive Order 4, originally issued on September 27, had permitted physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and certain types of behavioral health providers and other professionals, who are licensed and in current good standing in any state in the U.S., or in Canada or certain other approved countries, to practice their profession in New York. The Executive Order, as extended, also provides for other regulatory flexibility for practitioners during the public health emergency.