The Vermont Board of Medical Practice protects and promotes the health and safety of Vermonters by ensuring professional integrity through licensure of health care practitioners and investigation of complaints in a fair manner that is respectful to all parties.
We've unfortunately had a report that scam calls are happening again. The caller was wrongly identified as the Vermont Medical Board with our number 802-657-4220. The caller also identified themselves as an investigator. The licensee was told that they may be a victim of identity fraud.
We are issuing this reminder that the scams are, unfortunately, on-going. There are simple ways to protect yourself. Please take a moment to read about these scams so that you can recognize them and know how to respond to questionable telephone calls, emails, or texts.
Frequently the scammers claim to be medical board investigators, DEA agents, or FBI agents. In several reported cases, the scammers claimed that the professionals' medical licenses or prescribing permits had been compromised and were being used by criminals in drug trafficking schemes.
Thieves are able to make it appear that a call is coming from our office telephone number.
Most of these cases begin with telephone calls, but there may also be text messages, emails, and faxes. Some victims receive information allegedly detailing aspects of the investigation that feature official-looking letterhead, seals, stamps, and water marks from the FBI, DEA, and Department of Justice, as well as publicly available information such as the victims' National Provider Identifier numbers, license numbers, and business address. Criminals may modify their schemes, so you cannot count on a ruse fitting this exact description, but there are certain signs that are almost guaranteed to indicate you are dealing with a scam:
• A demand or request for you to act immediately.
• A demand for money, account information, or protected personal information.
Theses scams are often designed to take advantage of a person's fear of getting in trouble with a regulatory or law enforcement agency and to prompt action before you can think about the situation or seek advice. It is possible that any medical professional could receive a legitimate call from a regulatory body or law enforcement agency, but you can avoid being a victim if you remember one important lesson:
The Board (and other government agencies) will never contact you by telephone, text or email to demand money, account information, or protected personal information in this way. Likewise, no legitimate regulator or law enforcement agent will force you to respond immediately and without opportunity to confirm their identity.
Most initial contacts are by telephone. If you receive such a call, we recommend the following:
• Ask the caller to provide you his or her name and the telephone number of the Board office (or other agency) so that you can call back. Do not call back the number that you are given. Independently check the number on a reliable source if you want to call the Board.
• Do not provide any personal financial or identifying information.
• If you think it may be a legitimate call, get the number of the agency yourself and call the office.
• Report the incident to the local FBI Field Office. Licensees in Vermont should call the FBI Field Office in Albany, NY at (518) 465-7551. For other states check online at: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices.
When someone contacts you and claims they are a Board of Medical Practice employee, you may call our office to verify our staff is trying to reach you. Our office is open from 7:45AM - 4:30PM eastern time, Monday - Friday: (802) 657-4220 or you may email: [email protected] and we will assist you in determining if the call is legitimate.
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We were notified that a physician was called by someone claiming that they were from the Board of Medical Practice. The caller told the MD that they were under investigation and needed to stop practicing immediately. The call showed on the Caller ID as coming from the Board's main telephone line. There are two important lessons from this latest scam attempt. First, some scammers have the ability to "spoof" the Caller ID system to show a different number than the phone from which the call originated. Second, if you have any doubt at all about the source of the call, you can always tell the caller that you will contact the Board, then hang up and call our office to confirm whether a Board staff member was calling you.
More details about how to avoid being victimized by a scam and how to report scams to the FBI can be found in the Call Scam Alert email sent from the Board last year. Please let us know if you are targeted and consider reporting it to the FBI (follow the link for info on reporting).
All Temporary Telehealth Registrations are now expired. This option, which was originally created for the COVID public-health emergency, is no longer available. Anyone practicing telehealth with Vermont patients must obtain an appropriate credential. In addition to the option of obtaining full licensure, physicians, PAs, and podiatrists may apply for new telehealth credentials. The two telehealth credential options are a telehealth license and a telehealth registration (which is distinct from the temporary telehealth registration that is no longer available). Follow this link to our page with licensing information for details.
Physicians (MDs), physician assistants, and podiatrists have two new credentials to choose from when considering telehealth practice with Vermont patients.
Telehealth registration is a good option for professionals who want to start telehealth practice as soon as possible. Telehealth registration has some significant limitations: it is good for only 120 days from the day issued; it allows practice with a total of only 10 unique patients over the 120 days; and it cannot be renewed. However, it offers some significant advantages: the application process is very abbreviated; the fee is one-half the cost of renewing a full license; and the fee may be credited toward the cost of a full license or a telehealth license if the holder applies within three years from the date the telehealth registration became effective. Two examples of situations where a provider may want to obtain a telehealth registration are:
Telehealth Licensure is a good option for professionals who have long-term plans to practice in Vermont with a limited number of patients. Telehealth licenses are issued for the remainder of the two-year licensing period when issued and may be renewed every two years. The only limitations are that practice is limited to telehealth and only 20 unique patients may be treated during each two-year licensing period. The application process is the same as the process for a full license. The fee is 75 percent of the fee for renewal of a full license and a licensee elects to apply for a full license while holding a telehealth license the fee will be credited toward the fee for the full license. Examples where a telehealth license may be a good alternative are:
More detailed information about the two options, eligibility criteria, and the process for applying for each of them, specific to each profession are available within each application.
If you are ready to apply for a telehealth registration or license go to get to our online licensing system.
The Board licenses allopathic physicians, physician assistants and podiatrists, and certifies anesthesiologist assistants and radiologist assistants.
Other health professionals, including nurses, and osteopathic physicians are regulated by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation.
EMS licensed professionals can find information on the Emergency Medical Services webpage.
