Amendment ID: S2202-35-R1

Redraft Amendment 35

Improved Access to Medical Services

Messrs. Eldridge and Hinds move to amend the bill by striking Section 144 in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

SECTION 144. There shall be a special commission to study and make recommendations on how to license foreign-trained medical professionals and medical professionals trained or licensed in other jurisdictions to expand and improve access to medical services in rural and underserved areas.

The commission shall consist of: (i) the secretary of health and human services or a designee, who shall serve as chair; (ii) the commissioner of public health or a designee; (iii) 1 member appointed by the senate president; (iv) 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house; (v) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; (vi) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house; (vii) the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public health; and (viii) 9 members appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a member of the governor’s advisory council for refugees and immigrants, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of the division of health professional licensure, 1 whom shall be a member of the board of registration in medicine, 1 of whom shall be a member of the board of registration in dentistry, 1 member of the board of registration in pharmacy, 1 of whom shall be a member of the board of registration in nursing, 1 of whom shall be a member of the board of registration of psychologists and 1 of whom shall be a member of the board of allied health professionals

The commission shall examine and make recommendations on topics including, but not limited to: (i) ways to implement strategies to integrate foreign-trained medical professionals and medical professionals trained or licensed in other jurisdictions into rural and underserved areas that are in need of access to medical services; (ii) ways to identify state and national licensing regulations that pose barriers to practice for foreign-trained medical professionals and medical professionals trained or licensed in other jurisdictions; (iii) state licensing requirements that pose barriers to practice for foreign-trained medical professionals and medical professionals trained or licensed in other jurisdictions; (iv) alternate approaches by other states to integrate foreign-trained medical professionals and medical professionals trained or licensed in other jurisdictions into rural and underserved areas; and (v) other matters pertaining to licensing foreign-trained medical professionals and medical professionals trained or licensed in other jurisdictions. The commission may hold hearings and invite testimony from experts and the public to gather information. The report may include recommended guidelines for full licensure and conditional licensing of foreign-trained medical professionals and medical professionals trained or licensed in other jurisdictions.

The commission shall file its recommendations, including any drafts of legislation or regulations necessary to carry out its recommendations, to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on public health and the joint committee on health care financing not later than March 1, 2019.