Legislature(2005 - 2006)HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/14/2005 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB42 | |
| HB102 | |
| HB115 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 42 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 102 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 115 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 102
An Act relating to the licensure of foreign medical
graduates; and providing for an effective date.
BEN MULLIGAN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BILL STOLTZE, explained
the legislation, noting that the purpose was to help
alleviate the shortage of physicians in Alaska, which are
more noticeable in the specialty fields.
The legislation will allow, at the discretion of the Alaska
State Medical Board, individuals graduating from foreign
medical schools, the ability to practice medicine in Alaska.
Currently, there is a 2-year United States graduate medical
education residency program requirement. The proposed
legislation would make it easier to practice medicine in
Alaska. The requirements will remain as stringent as they
currently are for persons graduating from medical school in
the United States.
Mr. Mulligan pointed out that the last section offers
recommendations for the board; they may choose not to adopt
those stipulations.
1:54:47 PM
Representative Hawker questioned if this idea had been run
by either Providence or Regional Hospital.
Vice-Chair Stoltze advised that he had not "run it by" the
actual hospitals, however, it has been looked at by the
hospital representatives he met in the Capitol hall's and
they offered "a thumbs up".
Representative Weyhrauch asked the definition of an "active
medical practice" as outlined in Section 3. Mr. Mulligan
offered to check that out. He pointed out that Jim Jordan,
the Executive Director of the Alaska State Medical
Association was on line.
Representative Weyhrauch referenced Section 3 and asked if
the doctor was a general practioner, would they be carrying
a board certified "specialty" license. Mr. Mulligan
advised that would not fall under the American Board of
Medical Specialties but thought that it would fall under the
American Medical Board. He offered to provide further
information on that concern.
Representative Weyhrauch asked if the physician did not have
a current board specialty but did have a long practice of
general medicine, would they be excluded from being able to
practice under the proposed bill. Mr. Mulligan advised that
the stipulations are only guidelines and may or may not be
decided to be worthy requirements.
Representative Weyhrauch questioned why those two
requirements had been set apart from all the other possible
requirements. Mr. Mulligan explained that one of the
specifics was the medical specialty and that the legislation
attempts to fill vacancies for specific medical practices.
Representative Weyhrauch asked why the listed two hospitals
had been the only included. Mr. Mulligan offered to provide
that information.
Co-Chair Meyer noted that there are testifiers on-line that
could address these concerns.
1:58:54 PM
RICK URION, DIRECTOR, OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, testified
enthusiastically in support for the legislation. He claimed
that licensing laws are written in such a way that they
leave no discretion. HB 102 would solve some problems and
would provide the Board with opportunities to make choices
while protecting the public. He emphasized that it is
important to pass the legislation.
Representative Kelly questioned if background checks would
be made on these applicants. Mr. Urion advised that most of
these people are living in the United States and have been
for many years. He did not foresee any problems.
2:01:19 PM
JIM JORDAN, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, ALASKA STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE, noted
he had submitted written testimony included in member's
packets. (Copy on File). Mr. Jordan stated that the Alaska
State Medical Association strongly supports HB 102.
Mr. Jordan reiterated physician shortages that exist in the
Anchorage hospitals. Providence Medical system did a study
in 2002, which indicated at that time, they were short 200
physicians. He stressed the fact that there is a shortage
and as the State moves forward toward 2009, the shortage
will become bigger. The numbers will only grow without
passage of the bill. He thought that HB 102 could help to
address these alarming concerns.
Mr. Jordan mentioned physicians currently in active
practice. He acknowledged that it is important to guarantee
that physicians have guidelines for applying for certain
positions; they must be practicing and actively seeing
patients. Mr. Jordan advised that general practice usually
has a specialty area. For board certification, it is
recognized that to qualify for core competency, there would
be extensive peer review.
Mr. Jordan addressed "accreditation counsel" for graduate
medical education from the Royal College of Physicians in
Canada. He commented that is the entity, which credits
medical education programs in the United States and Canada.
That college goes through extensive accreditation procedures
for graduate medical education, primarily provided through
hospitals.
2:05:43 PM
Representative Croft asked the justification for the broad
amount of discretion that the legislation would provide to
the Board. Mr. Jordan stressed that it is a "very
professional" State Medical Board, who would not want to
"water" down any credentials. They would be determining
other alternative measures of competency.
2:07:44 PM
DR. GEORGE STEWART, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE),
PHYSICIAN, ANCHORAGE, voiced his support for the proposed
legislation. He noted that he has been practicing in
Anchorage for over 30-years and is a specialist in the area
of lung disease. At present time, there should be 10
physicians in that area of critical care medicine; however,
there are only 8. He pointed out that he is now 68 years
old and should have retired years ago but because of the
shortage, he professionally has not been able to do so.
Some of the other physicians with those specialties are also
in their 60's.
The purpose of the proposed legislation is not to lower the
standard but rather provide the Board with the discretion to
license physicians that are qualified, but do not meet the
exact letter of three years of practice in the United
States. He emphasized that there is consequently, a serious
shortfall of physicians statewide, which will only become
worse without passage of the legislation.
Dr. Stewart voiced strong support for the proposed
legislation.
Vice-Chair Stoltze noted that his specialist had a 3 to 4
month waiting period and asked Dr. Stewart if that was
typical. Dr. Stewart replied that is common and for some
new patients, the wait time can be as long as 6 months.
Representative Weyhrauch referenced Section 3, recommending
a conceptual amendment be added that the practitioner is
able to read and write English. Mr. Jordan explained that
there are protections in place as the medical boards tests
require fluency in English.
Representative Weyhrauch addressed Section 3, Section C,
suggesting to delete "means" and insert "includes". He
thought that "means" would limit the two entities. Mr.
Jordan advised that the correct word is "means", as the
reference in that section goes back to the original body of
the licensing law, which recognizes graduate medical
programs in the United States. The only bodies recognized
are the two listed.
2:16:52 PM
Representative Croft asked why there was a limit to only
those two in a bill promoting flexibility. He thought that
the discretion in Section B was removed by the North
American definition of "hospital".
Mr. Jordan responded that the recognized hospital language
relates to foreign medical graduates that have satisfied the
3-year medical graduation requirement in the United States.
Latitude is still given, through the regulatory process, for
an equivalency. However the State Medical Board would have
the authority to bend regulations for that specific program.
Representative Croft pointed out that Sections A & B could
be either/or and were narrowly defining the type of
hospital, which the person must have their 2-year additional
postgraduate training at. He said that was odd; he
suggested a regulation placed under "B" to address that.
2:20:00 PM
Co-Chair Meyer agreed with the sponsor and Mr. Jordan.
Representative Foster MOVED to report HB 102 out of
Committee with individual recommendations and with the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
HB 102 was reported out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with a zero note #1 by the Department of
Community & Economic Development.
2:20:45 PM
AT EASE: 2:20:52 PM
CONVENE: 2:24:00 PM
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