COVID-19 Information for Professional and Occupational Licensees

Due to the evolving COVID-19 situation in Montana, all Montana Department of Labor & Industry offices are closed to the public to protect the health and safety of our clients and staff. We are currently receiving a higher than normal volume of phone calls. We encourage you to mail us at DLIBSDHELP@MT.GOVwith your questions or requests. We are also available to assist customers through our online public portal at EBIZ.MT.GOV/POL (Professional or Occupational Licenses) and EBIZ.MT.GOV (Building Permits).

As authorized by 10-3-118 MCA, and Governor Steve Bullock’s directive, The Montana Department of Labor & Industry has implemented a COVID-19 Emergency Healthcare Registration for out-of-state healthcare licensees requesting to actively work in Montana for a defined period of time.

The Department will evaluate your home state license(s) according to licensing regulations in Montana, to verify it is currently active, unrestricted, and in good standing, and issue you a registration to work in Montana.

The registration is only valid until the current emergency directives are rescinded. If you are looking to work in Montana longer than the current state of emergency is in effect, please also submit a full application through our regular online process .

Tips for Applying Online:

1. Click here for instructions to create your online licensing account.
2. Select “New Health Care License” when starting your license application.
3. From the “COVID19 Emergency Application” license type, select the “Emergency Healthcare      Registration” option.
4. Don’t forget your active license number from another state. We need this to process your license registration.
5. If you have questions, email us at INTERSTATEREG.DLIBSD@MT.GOV.

Under the Governor’s Directive for Easing Licensing Requirements for Health Care Providers During the Emergency (effective April 21, 2020), certain “health care providers” who held a Montana license that terminated within the past five years and who have a clean disciplinary record, may receive a temporary permit without paying a fee or demonstrating recent continuing education, certification, or competency evaluation.

“Health care providers” include persons engaged in an occupation or profession that requires licensure through the following Montana licensing boards:

Behavioral Health, Clinical Laboratory Science Practitioners, Medical Examiners, Nursing, Nursing Home Administrators, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy Examiners, Psychologists, Radiologic Technologists, Respiratory Care Practitioners, Sanitarians, and Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.

Temporary permits issued under the Directive are valid until rescission of Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020.

The Department and Board reserve the right to revoke a temporary permit for unprofessional conduct.

Health care providers who have been out of practice for more than five years may seek to provide emergency volunteer assistance services by visiting the Montana State Registry of Professional and Public Health Volunteers page here.

Instructions for Applying Online:

1. Visit the EBiz online licensing portal to begin the reactivation process with your existing account information. Click here if you need instructions on creating a new account.
2. Select new “New Health Care License” when starting your license application.
3. From the “COVID19 Emergency Applications” license type, select the “Emergency Healthcare Reactivation” option.
4. Please have your full Montana Professional License number available at the time of application, we will be asking you for this number. If you don’t know your full license number, you can use the License Search tool to find it by searching by your first and last name.
5. If you have questions, email us at DLIBSDHELP@MT.GOV

Certain “health care provider” licensees (defined below) who currently hold a “lapsed,” “expired,” or “inactive” Montana license may choose to renew/reactivate their licenses as they would under regular circumstances or may apply for a temporary permit under the Governor’s Directive for Easing Licensing Requirements for Health Care Providers During the Emergency (effective April 21, 2020).

If the licensee chooses a temporary permit, the permit will issue without fee or demonstration of recent continuing education, certification, or competency evaluation.

Temporary permits issued under the Directive cannot be renewed and are valid until rescission of Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020.

The Department and Board reserve the right to revoke a temporary permit for unprofessional conduct.

If the licensee chooses to renew or reactivate a license in the customary manner, the licensee must pay the regular fees and demonstrate recent continuing education, certification, or competency evaluation. Renewed and reactivated licenses are subject to all normal and customary requirements set forth in Title 37 and board rule.

“Health care providers” include persons engaged in an occupation or profession that requires licensure through the following Montana licensing boards:

Behavioral Health, Clinical Laboratory Science Practitioners, Medical Examiners, Nursing, Nursing Home Administrators, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy Examiners, Psychologists, Radiologic Technologists, Respiratory Care Practitioners, Sanitarians, and Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.

Instructions for Applying Online:

1. Visit the EBiz online licensing portal to begin the reactivation process with your existing account information. Click here if you need instructions on creating a new account.
2. Select new “New Health Care License” when starting your license application.
3. From the “COVID19 Emergency Applications” license type, select the “Emergency Healthcare Reactivation” option.
4. Please have your full Montana Professional License number available at the time of application, we will be asking you for this number. If you don’t know your full license number, you can use the License Search tool to find it by searching by your first and last name.
5. If you have questions, email us at DLIBSDHELP@MT.GOV

Licensees providing client services or patient care from out of state to persons located in Montana must either hold a Montana license or register through the Emergency Interstate Registration. Licensees using telemedicine in the treatment and care of patients or clients in Montana must adhere to the same standards of care and standards of professional conduct required for in-person settings.

For further questions, see the Governor’s Directive on Telehealth, April 21, 2020.

If you are a Montana licensee serving clients in another jurisdiction, please consult the regulatory entity in that jurisdiction.

Questions about billing private insurance and Medicare and Medicaid for telehealth or any service should be directed to the Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is no FDA-approved treatment, cure, or vaccine for COVID-19; however, research and clinical trials are in progress. See FDA’s COVID-19 resource page.

National and local reports indicate the potential inappropriate prescribing and dispensing of medications identified as possible treatment for COVID-19, including, but not limited to, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, mefloquine, and azithromycin.

The reports suggest inappropriate self-prescribing, prescribing with no diagnosis, stockpiling, and dispensing of these medications related to COVID-19 that may lead to drug shortages impacting patients who rely on the medications for treatment of chronic medical conditions, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and malaria diagnoses.

Providers and pharmacists are reminded to exercise their best professional judgment and discretion to ensure patients established on appropriate treatment prior to COVID-19 continue to have access to their medications, including during drug shortages. Inappropriate prescribing and dispensing is discouraged and could conflict with standards of conduct for prescribing and responsibilities to review prescription drug orders prior to dispensing.

If you are aware of inappropriate prescribing or dispensing, or if you have further questions, please contact the respective board by email at DLISBSDHELP@MT.GOV or go to HTTP://BSD.DLI.MT.GOV for more information. Links to the standards of professional conduct for prescribing and dispensing requirements can be found at the individual profession’s board website.

You may also report suspected fraud with respect to the sale or acquisition of supplies designated scarce by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline established by the United States Department of Justice by calling (866) 720-5721 or emailing DISASTER@LEO.GOV.

For Food and Drug Administration (FDA) information on the emergency use authorization of hydroxychloroquine sulfate supplied through the Strategic National Stockpile for patients hospitalized with COVID-19, see FDA’s Frequently Asked Questions , and FDA’s Drug Safety Communication .