THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

231

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to medicine.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii is facing a significant physician shortage as demand for services grows among the State's aging population and more doctors leave the workforce.  The current shortage is estimated at more than seven hundred physicians, a statistic that is expected to double by 2020.  The neighbor islands in particular face an especially critical shortage of physicians.

     The legislature further finds that foreign medical graduates serve an integral role in the delivery of health care throughout the country, including filling much-needed physician positions in health professional shortage areas.  Foreign medical graduates must complete strict training and licensing requirements prior to licensure in Hawaii.

     However, the legislature additionally finds that existing statute has been interpreted to require foreign medical graduates to pass the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX), the United States Medical Licensing Examination, or a combination, in addition to the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) qualifying examination prior to 1984.  This requirement has caused some confusion, as the FLEX exam did not exist prior to 1984 and it therefore would not have been possible for a foreign medical graduate to take both the FLEX and the ECFMG examinations prior to 1984.  The legislature notes that clarifying existing law will not compromise the State's medical qualifications, but will eliminate potential confusion associated with requirements for licensure of foreign medical graduates.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this measure is to clarify that a foreign medical graduate must have passed either:

     (1)  The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates qualifying examination on or after 1984; or

     (2)  The Federation Licensing Examination, United States Medical Licensing Examination, a combination of these examinations, or the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates qualifying examination prior to 1984.

     SECTION 2.  Section 453-4.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§453-4.5  Foreign medical graduates; alternative qualifications.  Notwithstanding section 453-4(b)(2)(B), a graduate of a foreign medical school who [has passed the]:

     (1)  Has passed:

         (A)  The Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX) or the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), or a combination of these examinations as approved by the board, with scores deemed satisfactory to the board[, passed]; or the qualifying examination of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates prior to 1984[, and has]; or

         (B)  The qualifying examination of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates on or after 1984; and

     (2)  Has at least three years of medical training or experience in a hospital approved by the Council on Medical Education and Hospitals of the American Medical Association for internship or residency,

may be licensed by the Hawaii medical board under section 453‑4(c)."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Medicine; Licensure; Foreign Medical Graduates; Alternative Qualifications

 

Description:

Clarifies licensure requirements for foreign medical graduates.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.