SPONSOR: Stinnett
This bill establishes the "Expanding Physician Access Act of 2025".
The bill allows the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, within the Division of Professional Registration, to grant a provisional license to practice medicine in this State to any international physician with an offer for employment as a physician from any health care provider that operates in this State as long as the international physician is eligible to obtain a Federal immigration status that allows him or her to practice as a physician in the United States.
The Board may revoke a provisional license if the international physician is not employed by a health care provider that operates in this state during the period of provisional licensure. The Board may also revoke a provisional license based on clear and convincing evidence that medical services provided by the licensee have violated the State's medical safety, competency, or conduct standards.
A licensee may appeal the revocation of his or her provisional license under to a State court of competent jurisdiction over the Board within 120 days of the revocation of the provisional license.
The Board will automatically convert a provisional license into a full license to practice medicine in this State after 3 years of active practice in this state by the licensee, provided that the licensee remains in good standing with the Board and is not under investigation by the Board.
International physicians who are required to obtain Federal work authorization before commencing any work for the sponsoring health care provider will be eligible to apply for a provisional license prior to receiving federal work authorization but cannot commence work without the necessary work authorization.
International physicians who become fully licensed will not be required to maintain employment with the sponsoring health care provider at the conclusion of the period of the provisional licensure.
The provisions of this bill will become effective on January 1, 2026.
Statutes affected: