Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
HB 2832
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. |
Brief Description: Concerning physician limited licenses.
Sponsors: Representatives Tharinger and Riccelli; by request of Department of Health.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/2/16
Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).
Background:
The Medial Quality Assurance Commission (MQAC) licenses and disciplines allopathic physicians. A physician who graduates from a medical school within the United States or Canada must meet a variety of qualifications, including:
graduation from medical school;
passage of an examination;
completion of two years of post-graduate medical training;
good moral character; and
the ability to safely practice medicine.
The MQAC may issue a limited license without examination to persons who meet certain qualifications. For example:
An applicant who has been nominated by the University of Washington School of Medicine or by the chief executive officer of a health care facility may be issued a limited license if he or she has been invited to serve as a teaching-research member of the institution's instructional staff. The applicant must be licensed or otherwise privileged to practice medicine at his or her location of origin. The applicant may practice medicine only within the confines of the instructional program.
An applicant who has been nominated by the University of Washington School of Medicine or by the chief executive officer of a health care facility may be issued a limited license if he or she has been selected by the sponsoring institution to be enrolled in one of its designated departmental or divisional fellowship programs. The applicant must have graduated from a recognized medical school and be licensed or otherwise privileged to practice medicine at his or her location of origin. The applicant may practice medicine only within the confines of the fellowship. The limited license may be renewed for no more than two years.
Summary of Bill:
The holder of a teaching-research license is eligible for full licensure if he or she:
has successfully completed the examination requirements specified in rules adopted by the MQAC;
is able to read, write, speak, understand, and be understood in English;
has continuously held a position of associate professor or higher at a recognized Washington medical school for at least three years;
has no disciplinary actions taken against him or her in the previous five years; and
has passed the certification process by the Educational Committee for Foreign Medical Graduates, if he or she attend a foreign medical school.
The prohibition against a fellowship license being renewed for more than two years is eliminated. Teaching-research licensees and fellowship licensees may be nominated by any accredited medical school in Washington.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 27, 2016.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.