Where can I sign up for the 4-hour training?

• Once validation of the physician's license occurs with the Department of State, physicians will be prompted to complete the required training.  CMEs will count toward the physician's licensure requirement.  The following entities are currently approved to offer training:
  • TheAnswerPage Inc
  • The Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp at Thomas Jefferson University
  • St. Joseph's University
  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)
  • Pennsylvania State Nurses Association
  • Medical Marijuana CME
  • Medical Marijuana 411

• The practitioner profile you create when registering with the program is where all your relevant information is stored, which includes your:
  • practitioner ID#
  • medical practice address
  • phone number
  • email address
• Each time you log onto the practitioner registry, you will be able to access this information. 
  
• Please keep it current by using the Profile Settings tab. 
• You can also view all the certifications you have submitted using the Patient Certifications tab.
  

• After a practitioner is approved by the Department of Health (Department) to begin issuing certifications, they receive an email with some tips for getting started and a list of practitioner resources.

• MDs and DOs approved by the Department for inclusion on the practitioner registry can issue a patient certification where the practitioner had determined that the patient meets the requirements: 
• The patient has at least one of the eligible serious medical conditions
  
• The patient is under the practitioner's continuing care; and
  
• That patient is likely to receive therapeutic or palliative benefit from the use of medical marijuana. 
  

Patients must have a practitioner's certification to get their medical marijuana ID card or to be dispensed medicine via an approved caregiver to whom they are linked

• Any Pennsylvania resident with one of the eligible serious medical conditions can be a patient in the program and otherwise meets the requirements of 28 Pa. Code 1181a.27. 
• Do all patients receive an ID card? No
• For the following three categories of patients, a caregiver registers on their patient's behalf and is the only one with a medical marijuana identification card, in the form of a caregiver's card:
  • Minor patient
  • Homebound patient
  • Benefits from assistance (with daily activities) patient

• A caregiver is an individual designated by a patient and authorized by the Department of Health to pick up medical marijuana for a patient. 
• The caregiver registers, completes a criminal background check, and purchases an ID card.  They must be linked to a patient to purchase medicine for them.
• Please reference the Caregiver section of our website for more information on medical marijuana caregivers

• It is important to note that an individual registered as an adult patient can also be linked to a caregiver, but in that case both individuals have a card, and either or both can visit the dispensary.

• A "serious medical condition" under the law is any one of the following:

1. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
2. Anxiety disorders
3. Autism
4. Cancer, including remission therapy
5. Chronic Hepatitis C
6. Crohn's disease
7. Damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (brain-spinal cord) with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, and other associated neuropathies
8. Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders
9. Epilepsy
10. Glaucoma
11. HIV / AIDS
12. Huntington's disease
13. Inflammatory bowel disease
14. Intractable seizures
15. Multiple sclerosis
16. Neurodegenerative diseases
17. Neuropathies
18. Opioid use disorder for which conventional therapeutic interventions are contraindicated or ineffective, or for which adjunctive therapy is indicated in combination with primary therapeutic interventions
19. Parkinson's disease
20. Post-traumatic stress disorder
21. Severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain
22. Sickle cell anemia
23. Terminal illness
24. Tourette syndrome

• Yes, a patient registers and should have their patient ID number handy when having their consultation with the practitioner. 

• Act 44 of 2021 grants practitioners the ability to issue certifications via synchronous interaction (i.e., phone or video conference). 

• A video of completing a certification can be found here:  Patient Certification example.  The basic steps are listed below:
  • Log in to your practitioner portal and navigate to the "Patient Certifications" tab.
  • Search for the patient in the registry using their last name, DOB, and patient ID# if known.  Email address may also be used.
  • Once the patient record is found, check the box under Select and click Create New Certification.
• Scroll down and fill out sections 1-8, and then click Submit.  If you do not complete all the sections or click Save instead of Submit, the certification will be in a pending status until you complete and submit it.
• The system will generate a certification number.  This number should be recorded in the patient's chart.
  

• If it is a patient's first certification, they will receive an email with instructions for paying for their medical marijuana ID card. 
• 60 days before a patient's certification and card are set to expire, they are sent an email letting them know it's time to be certified again by the doctor. 
  
• They can be certified again any time after receiving that email. 
  
• Their new medical marijuana ID card will automatically go to print as long as their annual card fee is not overdue. 
  

• Send an email to RA-DHMMDOCTORS@pa.gov requesting that the certification be cancelled.  Include the patient's name, DOB, and patient ID # if known.

• No. A practitioner may not issue a patient certification for the practitioner's own use or for the use of a family or household member.  (35 P.S. § 10231.403(e). Also, a practitioner may not be a designated caregiver for a patient that has been issued a patient certification by that practitioner (28 Pa. Code § 1181a.31). 

• Your account was locked from 5 attempts to log in with an incorrect username/password combination or because your password has expired. 
• Please wait 30 minutes and then request a password reset email, which will unlock the account.
  
  • To do this, click the 'Forgot your username or password link on the login page. 
    
  • Follow the prompts for creating a new password. 
    
  • An email will be sent to you – check your junk/spam folder if you don't see it in your inbox.
    

• You must send your request in an email to RA-DHMMDOCTORS@pa.gov.  The Department of Health will disable the account and send you an email confirmation when it is completed. 

• Verify that you have the patient's information correct.  If it is correct and you still cannot locate the patient's record, contact us at RA-DHMMDOCTORS@pa.gov. 

• Login to your Practitioner Portal and navigate to the "Patient Certifications" tab.
• Search for the patient in the registry using their last name, DOB, and patient ID# if known.  Email address may also be used.
• Once the patient record is found, locate the Pending Practitioner Approval Certification, and check the box next to that certification under View Certification.
• Scroll down and fill out Sections 1-8, and then click Submit.
• You will then be given a certification number; this number should be recorded in the patient's chart.

• Practitioners or staff from their office may contact us at RA-DHMMDOCTORS@pa.gov. 
  
• Patients who are having account issues or other questions should contact our help desk at 888-733-5595.
  
• Our medical marijuana patient helpdesk is open every day, except state holidays from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM EST
  

Further Resources for Practitioners