The bill SB 371-FN proposes significant changes to the regulation and licensing of physicians in New Hampshire, transferring many responsibilities from the board of medicine to the office of professional licensure and certification. It amends the law to reflect this shift, particularly in the evaluation and licensing process, where the office will now establish criteria and handle tasks such as assessing civil penalties, conducting criminal history record checks, and determining qualifications for licensure. The bill also allows the office to waive examination requirements for applicants who are already board certified by recognized medical specialty boards and grants the office the authority to issue special training licenses and resolve certain professional qualification issues.

Further changes include updates to the conditions for issuing special, courtesy, and administrative licenses, with courtesy licenses now requiring an active license in good standing from a jurisdiction with similar requirements to New Hampshire's. The bill revises the medical license renewal process, the transfer to inactive status, and the procedures for reinstatement and disciplinary actions. Licensees are required to maintain current contact information and report disciplinary actions from other jurisdictions. Additionally, the bill repeals sections of RSA 329 related to rulemaking authority and renewal notices. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage, with an effective date of October 01, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 310:8
As Amended by the House: 329:2, 329:9, 329:11-a, 329:12, 329:16-a, 329:16-c, 329:16-f, 329:16-h
Version adopted by both bodies: 329:2, 329:9, 329:11-a, 329:12, 329:16-a, 329:16-c, 329:16-f, 329:16-h
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 329:2, 329:9, 329:11-a, 329:12, 329:14, 329:16-a, 329:16-c, 329:16-f, 329:16-h