New York City Healthcare Business Licensing Attorneys

Lawyers Assisting With Licenses and Credentials for Health-Related Businesses in New York

Healthcare businesses must meet strict licensing and credentialing requirements, which have been put in place to protect public health and ensure that these businesses will provide quality care. Businesses will need to obtain the appropriate licenses before beginning operations, and they must maintain compliance with regulatory requirements while operating. Individual practitioners who provide services through these businesses may also be required to obtain professional licenses and maintain credentials demonstrating their qualifications.

When a business fails to obtain the proper licenses or maintain required credentials, it may face significant consequences, including civil penalties, criminal sanctions, and professional discipline. Because of the complexity of licensing requirements and the serious consequences of non-compliance, legal guidance is essential for healthcare businesses as they address these issues.

At Health Counsel Group, our lawyers work with healthcare businesses in New York City and throughout the United States to address matters related to licensing and credentialing. We can help clients navigate licensing procedures, maintain compliance, and address challenges that may threaten licensure. With our knowledge of healthcare regulations and professional licensing requirements, we can help healthcare entrepreneurs and established businesses achieve their goals while meeting all applicable legal requirements.

The Importance of Proper Licensing and Credentialing

Licensing requirements for businesses in the healthcare sector establish minimum standards for operations while ensuring that businesses have the resources, policies, and personnel to provide safe care for patients. The licensing process ensures that regulatory authorities can review business plans, assess facilities, evaluate management capabilities, and verify compliance with all applicable requirements before a business begins operating. Ongoing compliance monitoring through inspections, complaint investigations, and renewals can help maintain standards and identify issues that may need to be addressed. Professional credentialing will verify that practitioners who provide healthcare services have the necessary education and training.

The consequences of operating without proper licenses or employing practitioners who do not have the proper credentials may include exclusion from participation in government insurance programs, inability to obtain reimbursement from private insurers, professional liability, and harm to a business's reputation. Some businesses may face criminal prosecution related to unlicensed practice or fraudulent applications for licenses or credentials.

Our attorneys can help healthcare businesses understand their licensing and credentialing requirements. We work with clients during the planning stages to identify the necessary licenses and ensure that they comply with their requirements. We can also provide ongoing counsel on credential verification, license maintenance, and responses to audits or investigations by regulatory bodies.

Medical Spa Licensing Requirements

Medical spas or medspas combine traditional spa services with medical treatments such as laser procedures, chemical peels, and injectables. The regulatory requirements for medical spas will depend on the specific services offered and the structure of a business.

When medical spas offer services that are considered medical treatments, they must operate under the appropriate medical supervision and comply with restrictions on the corporate practice of medicine. Medical spas offering medical treatments must typically be owned by licensed physicians, or they must be structured as professional corporations with physician ownership.

Facilities that perform laser procedures or pulsed light treatments must ensure that these treatments are performed by or under the supervision of licensed practitioners who are authorized to use these devices. Medical spas that offer cosmetic injection services must comply with requirements governing the administration of prescription medications. Only licensed practitioners operating within their scope of practice may administer Botox, dermal fillers, and similar products.

Our lawyers help medical spa owners understand their licensing requirements while making sure their businesses are structured correctly. We can provide guidance on corporate formation, medical supervision arrangements, scope of practice limitations, and other regulatory concerns.

Cosmetic Procedure Provider Regulations

Healthcare providers that offer cosmetic procedures may need to address additional regulatory issues. Surgical cosmetic procedures constitute medical practice, and they are subject to professional licensing and facility requirements.

Practitioners who perform cosmetic procedures must hold the appropriate licenses, and they must operate within their authorized scope of practice. Plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and other physicians may perform cosmetic procedures that are consistent with their training and levels of competence. Dentists and podiatrists may have more limited authority to perform procedures within their respective practice areas.

The advertising and marketing of cosmetic procedures must meet standards for professional conduct and comply with consumer protection laws. Practitioners may face disciplinary action based on deceptive advertising practices, including the use of misleading before-and-after photographs, unsubstantiated claims, or failure to disclose material information.

Our attorneys can help cosmetic procedure providers address regulatory compliance, facility requirements, and professional conduct standards. We can advise clients on which procedures they may perform based on their licenses, what facility standards they will need to meet, and how to market their services appropriately.

Urgent Care Clinic Licensing

Businesses that provide walk-in medical services must meet the applicable healthcare facility licensing requirements and the standards of professional practice. The regulatory classification of urgent care clinics will depend on factors such as the services offered, hours of operation, ownership structures, and whether a facility is independent or affiliated with a hospital or medical practice.

Some urgent care facilities may need to be licensed as diagnostic and treatment centers. The application process will typically involve submitting detailed information about facility design, equipment, staffing, policies, and financial capability. Urgent care clinics that perform certain procedures may be subject to office-based surgery regulations if they administer moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia.

The clinical laboratory services provided at urgent care facilities must obtain the appropriate certifications based on the complexity of testing they perform. Radiology services at urgent care clinics must comply with registration and safety requirements. Urgent care clinics that dispense medications must comply with pharmacy regulations or operate under physician dispensing provisions. Physicians may dispense medications in certain circumstances, but businesses must comply with labeling, record-keeping, and other requirements.

Our lawyers assist urgent care clinic operators with licensing and regulatory compliance. We can help clients determine which licenses and certificates will be required, guide them through the application processes, and ensure that their operations comply with the applicable standards.

Telemedicine Practice Licensing

Healthcare providers that offer telehealth services must hold the appropriate professional licenses in the states where patients are located when they receive care. The location of the patient at the time services are provided will generally determine which state's license is required, not the location of the practitioner.

Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other non-physician providers who provide telemedicine services must also hold the appropriate licenses, and they must comply with scope of practice limitations and supervision requirements. Telemedicine services generally include the same supervision obligations that would apply to in-person care.

Businesses that operate telemedicine platforms or coordinate telehealth services may have additional regulatory requirements depending on their roles and the structures of these companies. Organizations that employ or contract with practitioners to provide telemedicine services will need to ensure that the proper credentialing, clinical supervision, and quality assurance processes are in place.

Our attorneys can provide guidance for telemedicine providers regarding licensing requirements, prescribing standards, and regulatory compliance. We help practitioners understand which state licenses they will need based on the location of patients while addressing scope of practice concerns.

Employee and Contractor Credentialing

Healthcare businesses must verify that practitioners and other personnel have the required credentials before allowing them to provide services to patients. Employers may need to verify professional licenses, educational degrees, board certifications, malpractice insurance coverage, and work history.

Background checks may be used to identify a person's criminal history, sanctions that have been imposed, or other issues that could affect a practitioner's ability to provide quality care. By conducting background screening and monitoring the credentialing requirements of practitioners, businesses can identify license lapses, disciplinary actions, or other concerns that may affect employment eligibility.

Our lawyers work with healthcare businesses to develop and implement credentialing programs. We help clients establish license verification procedures, determine appropriate credentialing standards, and implement policies for monitoring credentials and addressing potential issues.

Contact Our New York Healthcare Business Licensing and Credentialing Lawyers

At Health Counsel Group, we can help healthcare businesses address licensing requirements, credentialing standards, and regulatory compliance. Our lawyers understand the regulations that apply to healthcare businesses, and we can help clients take the proper steps to meet their legal obligations. Contact our New York City healthcare licensing and credentialing attorneys at 123-456-7890 to schedule a consultation.