BILL AS INTRODUCED S.263
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1 S.263
2 Introduced by Senators Harrison, Brock, Clarkson, Gulick, Hashim, Lyons,
3 Perchlik, Vyhovsky and Wrenner
4 Referred to Committee on
5 Date:
6 Subject: Professions and occupations; Board of Medical Practice; physicians;
7 international medical graduates
8 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create a
9 working group to identify opportunities to utilize international medical school
10 graduates to expand Vermont’s health care workforce. The bill would also
11 appropriate funds to reimburse international medical school graduates for costs
12 associated with becoming licensed to practice medicine in Vermont.
13 An act relating to expanding Vermont’s health care workforce through
14 graduates of international medical schools
15 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
16 Sec. 1. HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS; GRADUATES OF
17 INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOLS; REPORT
18 (a) The Board of Medical Practice shall convene a working group to
19 develop proposals for harnessing the expertise of international medical school
20 graduates to increase Vermont’s health care workforce. The working group VT LEG #372764 v.2
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1 shall include representatives of Vermont hospitals, including the University of
2 Vermont Medical Center; of primary care and mental health providers; of the
3 Area Health Education Centers; of international medical school graduates; the
4 Office of Professional Regulation; the Department of Health; and other
5 interested stakeholders.
6 (b) The working group shall examine the implementation of a Tennessee
7 law allowing the issuance of temporary medical licenses to international
8 medical school graduates under certain circumstances. The working group
9 shall also consider other models and opportunities to create an expedited
10 Vermont licensure process for trained health care professionals from other
11 countries in order to increase Vermonters’ access to health care services,
12 including primary care services, while prioritizing and protecting patient
13 safety.
14 (c) On or before January 15, 2025, the Board shall report the working
15 group’s findings, recommendations, and proposals for legislative action to the
16 House Committees on Government Operations and Military Affairs and on
17 Health Care and the Senate Committees on Government Operations and on
18 Health and Welfare.
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1 Sec. 2. INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATES;
2 CERTIFICATION ASSISTANCE; APPROPRIATION
3 In fiscal year 2025, the sum of $50,000.00 is appropriated from the General
4 Fund to the Department of Health to reimburse international medical school
5 graduates for all or a portion of the costs of books, study materials, and
6 software needed to become licensed to practice medicine in Vermont. The
7 Department shall administer the funds in consultation with the Area Health
8 Education Centers Program at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.
9 Funds shall be awarded to eligible international medical school graduates on a
10 first-come, first-served basis until the funds are depleted.
11 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
12 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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