Legislature(2005 - 2006)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/27/2005 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB76 | |
| HB102 | |
| SB113 | |
| SB124 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 76 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 113 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 102 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 124 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 153 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 102 am
"An Act relating to the licensure of foreign medical graduates
and to applications for a license to practice medicine; and
providing for an effective date."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
BEN MILLIGAN, Staff to Representative Bill Stoltze, the bill's
sponsor, explained that this bill is an effort to address the
shortage of doctors in the State as measured on a per capita basis,
particularly in specialty fields. "In order to curb this shortage,
it is important to recognize foreign medical school graduates." The
current requirement is that doctors must complete a residency
program in the United States (U.S.). This legislation would provide
the Alaska State Medical Board the discretion to establish proof of
competency and professional qualifications requirement in order to
allow foreign medical school graduates to practice medicine in the
State.
Co-Chair Green noted that Members' packets include a one-page bill
summary letter [copy on file] dated January 25, 2005 from the
Alaska State Medical Association and addressed to Representative
Stoltze.
9:20:00 AM
Senator Olson spoke in "strong favor" of the bill. He shared that
during his membership on the State Medical Board, this issue was a
continuing "snag", as many "very good" foreign medical school
graduates were unable to practice in the State.
Co-Chair Wilken asked how Alaska compares to other states in this
regard.
9:20:48 AM
Mr. Milligan deferred to a forthcoming testifier, Jim Jordan, as he
would be more qualified to address that question.
GEORGE STEWART, MD, testified via teleconference from an offnet
site to attest to the shortage of doctors in the State,
specifically in specialty areas such as pulmonary critical care
medicine in which he practices. While, ideally, there should be ten
such practitioners, there are currently only eight and two of them,
himself included, are 68 years old. This legislation would not
"dumb down" acceptance for medical licensure in the State.
Dr. Stewart cited two examples of very qualified foreign trained
medical doctors who could not practice in the State due to their
not meeting the State's U.S. training program requirement. This
legislation would have allowed the Medical Board to review these
doctors' qualifications and allowed the issuance of licenses to
these doctors. The Board was disappointed that the current
interpretation to existing requirements disallowed such action. In
response to Co-Chair Wilken's question as to how Alaska's
requirements compared to other states, he noted that most other
states require 24-months of U.S. training. Alaska requires three
years of training.
9:24:53 AM
Co-Chair Green pointed out that a letter [copy on file] dated April
7, 2005, from Dr. Stewart and addressed to herself and Co-Chair
Wilken included the examples presented by Dr. Stewart.
JIM JORDAN, Executive Director, Alaska State Medical Association,
noted that the aforementioned letter from the Association is
indicative of the Association's support of the bill. He urged the
committee to adopt the legislation as it would provide the Medical
Board "the needed flexibility" that is required in regards to the
qualification of foreign graduates.
9:25:48 AM
Mr. Jordan added that a March third issue of the USA Today
newspaper [copy not provided] cautioned that by the year 2020, the
nation would experience a shortage of between 85,000 and 200,000
physicians. The State must be able to attract quality, well-trained
physicians, including those who might not have been trained in the
U.S.
Mr. Jordan stated that some "very positive unintended consequences"
could occur were this legislation adopted. Eighty different
languages have been reportedly spoken in the Municipality of
Anchorage school district. "That is reflective of the diverse
ethnicity of our population." It is "very critical" when
administering medical care "that the care that is provided be
culturally competent". This bill would be an opportunity for some
foreign nationals to provide such culturally competent care. They
would also serve as teachers for the physicians in the community.
9:27:56 AM
Co-Chair Wilken asked Mr. Jordan how the State's requirements
compare with other states.
9:28:20 AM
Mr. Jordan understood that numerous other states require fewer
years of graduate level training programs. In addition, other
states' medical boards are allowed "the latitude to adopt by
regulation different standards that would provide for competency"
of foreign trained medical doctors.
Mr. Jordan noted that competency considerations could include
licensure in another state for a period of time; English
competency; specialty certifications or passage of a U.S. core
clinical competency examination. "The key is to provide the
discretion to the State Medical Board to adopt by regulation the
standards" that would assure that the State has competent
physicians.
9:29:38 AM
Senator Olson questioned the reason that "such a good bill" had not
been introduced before.
9:29:58 AM
Mr. Jordan responded that, the fact that medical doctors such as
Dr. Stewart, have stepped forward and provided "specific hard core
examples" of need have furthered the cause.
9:30:30 AM
RICK URION, Director, Division of Occupational Licensing,
Department of Community and Economic Development testified in
strong support of the bill. He acknowledged the comments of the
testifiers and stated that providing the Board the needed
discretion would be "a step in the right direction". "This is a
good fix."
9:31:27 AM
Co-Chair Wilken moved to report the bill from Committee with
individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note.
There being no objection, HB 102am was REPORTED from Committee with
zero Fiscal Note #1 dated February 2, 2005 from the Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development.
9:32:04 AM
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