HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1595

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed House:

February 28, 2011

Title: An act relating to graduates of foreign medical schools.

Brief Description: Regarding graduates of foreign medical schools.

Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Cody, Appleton and Green).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care & Wellness: 2/3/11, 2/10/11 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/28/11, 95-1.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Allows certain foreign medical school graduates to be licensed in Washington without completing two years of post-graduate medical training.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Jinkins, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Hinkle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Clibborn, Green, Harris, Kelley, Moeller and Van De Wege.

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

The Medial Quality Assurance Commission (MQAC) is responsible for the licensure and discipline of physicians. A physician who graduates from a medical school within the United States or Canada must meet a variety of qualifications, including:

The two years of post-graduate training (which includes internships, residencies, and fellowships) must be in a program acceptable to the MQAC. The MQAC only approves programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Graduates of foreign medical schools (other than those in Canada) must meet all of the requirements as graduates from domestic schools, including the two years of post-graduate medical training. In addition, foreign medical school graduates must pass the examination given by the Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates and be able to read, write, speak, understand, and be understood in English.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

A foreign medical school graduate is exempt from the two-year post-graduate medical training requirement if he or she has met the following three requirements:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Washington has a high incidence of multiple sclerosis and it is unclear why. The symptoms of this unpredictable disease are varied. People with multiple sclerosis therefore need access to specialists and there is a shortage of such people in Washington. Domestically-trained physicians often do not pick multiple sclerosis as a specialty because of low pay and a lack of students in the field. However, foreign-trained physicians choose this specialty more frequently. Unfortunately, multiple sclerosis specialists from other countries who completed the multiple sclerosis fellowship at the University of Washington cannot be licensed in Washington because the fellowship is unaccredited. Currently, these specialists can be granted limited licenses to practice, but this has the effect of limiting their practice and providing incentives to move to other countries or other states. This bill creates a narrow exception to the two-year post graduate training requirement for highly qualified multiple sclerosis specialists.

(With concerns) Education and training standards for physicians are fairly standard nationwide. There is therefore some concern about carving out an exception for specific treatments and diseases. The Medical Quality Assurance Commission licenses a large number of foreign medical school graduates. It therefore may be timely for the requirements for foreign-trained physicians to be revisited.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Patricia Barnes, Dr. Annette Wundes, and Robin Fiscus, National Multiple Sclerosis Society; and Dr. Eugene May, National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Swedish Multiple Sclerosis Center.

(With concerns) Karen Jensen, Department of Health.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.