NEWARK – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs (the “Division”) today announced a series of new rule proposals and adoptions to establish permanent standards for practitioners of 11 licensing boards and committees who provide health care services through telemedicine.

During these unprecedented times, the availability of telehealth services has been critical, allowing as many New Jerseyans as possible to get the medical services they need during the current public health emergency. Moreover, the use of telecommunication technology has helped reduce in-person encounters that could spread COVID-19.
Making it easier for patients and providers to use telemedicine has been part of a coordinated statewide effort to bolster New Jersey’s emergency preparedness, while expanding access to essential care for the duration of the pandemic. With an eye to the future, the new host of regulatory guidelines will facilitate the use of telemedicine as demand continues to grow.

The new final rules and rule proposals published in the New Jersey Register today put in place a robust, clear regulatory infrastructure to guide the continued use of telemedicine to protect the health, safety and welfare of New Jerseyans. The new rules will remain in effect even after the current health emergency ends, ensuring long-term, broad-based access to telehealth care in New Jersey.

The notice of rule adoptions for the following seven licensing boards and committees can be viewed here.

• Acupuncture Examining Board
• Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
• Advisory Committee
• Board of Nursing
• Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
• Board of Psychological Examiners
• Board of Social Work Examiners
• Genetic Counseling Advisory Committee

The proposed rules on the following four licensing boards and committees, and information on how to submit a comment by December 18, 2020 can be viewed at:

• Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners Proposal
• Electrologists Advisory Committee Proposal
• Physician Assistant Advisory Committee Proposal
• Professional Counselor Examiners Committee Proposal

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The mission of the Division of Consumer Affairs, within the Department of Law and Public Safety, is to protect the public from fraud, deceit, misrepresentation and professional misconduct in the sale of goods and services in New Jersey through education, advocacy, regulation and enforcement. The Division pursues its mission through its 51 professional and occupational boards that oversee 720,000 licensees in the state, its Regulated Business section that oversees 60,000 NJ registered businesses, as well as its Office of Consumer Protection, Bureau of Securities, Charities Registration section, Office of Weights and Measures, and Legalized Games of Chance section.

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