House Bill No. introduced by G. Oblander, G. Kmetz, and K. Bogner aims to revise occupational licensing laws in Montana through the establishment of the "Expanding Physician Access Act." This act seeks to facilitate the licensure of internationally trained physicians by removing barriers that hinder their ability to fill vacancies, particularly in rural and primary care settings. The bill emphasizes that while it aims to eliminate unnecessary training duplication, all existing standards of care and licensing requirements will remain intact. The board will continue to ensure that internationally licensed applicants possess the necessary knowledge and experience to practice medicine in the state.

The bill outlines specific provisions for granting provisional licenses to international physicians who have job offers from healthcare providers in Montana. Key requirements include eligibility for federal immigration status, passing scores on the United States medical licensing examination, and evidence of similar training and satisfactory background checks. Provisional licenses will automatically convert to full licenses after three years of continuous practice, and the bill includes provisions for revocation of licenses based on violations of medical standards. Additionally, the act includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the legislation is deemed invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable.