HB 0881

CS

CHAMBER ACTION

1	The Health Care Regulation Committee recommends the following:
2
3	Council/Committee Substitute
4	Remove the entire bill and insert:
5	A bill to be entitled
6	An act relating to physician licensure requirements;
7	amending s. 458.3124, F.S.; revising criteria by which
8	certain foreign-trained physicians may receive a
9	restricted license and apply to take a certain portion of
10	the United States Medical Licensing Examination; revising
11	requirements for a foreign-trained physician applying for
12	certain licensure; creating s. 458.3126, F.S.; defining
13	the term "international medical graduate"; providing
14	legislative intent; providing references to statutory
15	requirements and a summary of options available for
16	international medical graduates to become qualified to
17	practice medicine in the state; providing an effective
18	date.
19
20	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
21
22	Section 1.  Section 458.3124, Florida Statutes, is amended
23	to read:
24	458.3124  Restricted license; certain experienced foreign-
25	trained physicians.--
26	(1)  A person who was trained in a medical school that is
27	listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools published by
28	the World Health Organization and is located in a country other
29	than the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico may receive a
30	restricted license and apply to take Step III of the United
31	States Medical Licensing Examination, if the person:
32	(a)  Legally practiced medicine for at least 5 years in the
33	country in which the school is located;
34	(b)  Has passed Steps I and II, including the clinical
35	knowledge and clinical skills components, of the United States
36	Medical Licensing Examination;
37	(c)  Is certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign
38	Medical Graduates as qualified for a restricted license to
39	practice medicine;
40	(d)  Is not subject to discipline, investigation, or
41	prosecution in any jurisdiction for acts that threaten the
42	public health, safety, or welfare or violate chapter 456 or this
43	chapter; and
44	(e)  Has been a resident of this state for at least 5 years
45	since July 1, 1996.
46	(2)  A person applying for licensure under this section
47	must submit to the Department of Health on or before December
48	31, 2000:
49	(a)  a completed application and documentation required by
50	the Board of Medicine to prove compliance with subsection (1).;
51	and
52	(b)  A nonrefundable application fee not to exceed $500 and
53	a nonrefundable examination fee not to exceed $300 plus the
54	actual cost to purchase and administer the examination.
55	(3)  A person applying under this section may take the
56	examination a maximum of 5 times within 5 years.
57	(3)(4)  A restricted licensee under this section must
58	practice under the supervision of a licensee approved by the
59	board, with the first year of licensure under direct supervision
60	and the second year in community service under indirect
61	supervision, including practicing with organizations that serve
62	indigent populations, such as s. 501(c)(3) agencies, public
63	health units, prisons, or other organizations approved by the
64	board.
65	(4)(5)  Notwithstanding s. 458.311(1)(f), a person who
66	successfully meets the requirements of this section and who
67	successfully passes Step III of the United States Medical
68	Licensing Examination is eligible for full licensure as a
69	physician.
70	(5)(6)  The board shall adopt rules to implement this
71	section.
72	Section 2.  Section 458.3126, Florida Statutes, is created
73	to read:
74	458.3126  International medical graduates.--
75	(1)  An "international medical graduate," also referred to
76	as a "foreign-trained physician," is a person who has trained in
77	an allopathic foreign medical school that is listed in the
78	International Medical Education Directory and is located outside
79	the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico.
80	(2)  Pursuant to s. 456.021(1), it is the intent of the
81	Legislature to use foreign-speaking state residents who are duly
82	qualified to become actively qualified in their respective
83	professions so that all people of this state may receive better
84	services. The intent of this section is to provide a summary of
85	the different options available for international medical
86	graduates to practice medicine in the state. The following
87	summary of options is not inclusive, and it is recommended that
88	the entire section of any statute referenced in paragraphs (a)-
89	(d) be read to ensure full compliance.
90	(a)  An international medical graduate may receive a full
91	license if he or she, among other requirements under s. 458.311,
92	has a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
93	(ECFMG), has completed a 2-year approved residency in one
94	specialty area, and has obtained a passing score on all steps of
95	the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
96	(b)  An international medical graduate may receive a
97	restricted license and sit for Step III of the USMLE if he or
98	she, among other requirements under s. 458.3124, passed Steps I
99	and II of the USMLE, has been certified by the ECFMG, and has
100	been a resident of the state for at least 5 years. Under s.
101	458.3124(3), an international medical graduate who is a
102	restricted licensee must practice under the direct supervision
103	of a board-approved licensed physician for the first year of
104	licensure and under the indirect supervision of a physician in a
105	community service setting that serves the indigent population
106	for the second year of licensure. If the international medical
107	graduate passes Step III of the USMLE, he or she is eligible for
108	full licensure under s. 458.3124(4).
109	(c)  An international medical graduate may practice in a
110	hospital or teaching hospital as a house physician under s.
111	458.345. The registration application is renewable every 2 years
112	under s. 458.345.
113	(d)  An international medical graduate who is a visiting
114	physician may be issued a temporary certificate under ss.
115	458.3135 and 458.3137 and a medical faculty certificate under s.
116	458.3145.
117	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.