TITLE 54

PROFESSIONS, VOCATIONS, AND BUSINESSES

CHAPTER 18

PHYSICIANS AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

54-1867.  limited license for bridge year physicians. (1) As used in this section:

(a)  "Board" means the state board of medicine.

(b)  "Bridge year physician" means a person who:

(i)   Is within the first year of graduation from a medical school accredited or provisionally accredited by an entity recognized by the board;

(ii)  Is a United States citizen or attended medical school in the United States; and

(iii) Applied to, but was not accepted into, an accredited medical residency training program.

(2)  The board shall establish a one (1) year, nonrenewable limited license under which bridge year physicians may practice medicine under terms, conditions, and a scope of practice determined by the board. If there is a limit to the number of limited licenses that may be issued, priority shall be granted to bridge year physicians who live in Idaho or who have longstanding ties to the state of Idaho, as determined by the board.

(3)  Persons practicing under a limited license established pursuant to this section shall:

(a)  Practice only within the scope of practice determined by the board;

(b)  Practice under the supervision of a licensed physician or pursuant to a collaborative practice agreement. The person practicing under a limited license shall qualify as one (1) of a supervising physician’s permitted advanced practice professionals. The board shall prescribe supervision requirements for limited licensees, provided that such requirements shall be no less stringent than supervision requirements for physician assistants;

(c)  Have prescriptive authority as determined by the board; and

(d)  Be subject to the same professional discipline, civil liability, and criminal liability as a fully licensed physician.

(4)  The services provided by a person practicing under a limited license shall be compensable in accordance with customary medical billing practices.

(5)  The board is authorized to:

(a)  Take such actions as are necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including the promulgation of any necessary rules;

(b)  Charge a fee of up to three hundred dollars ($300) for a limited license; and

(c)  Cooperate with the department of health and welfare and other relevant entities, including hospitals and health care clinics, whether public or private, in establishing a limited license.

(6)  No later than January 31, 2033, the board shall provide a report to the senate and house of representatives health and welfare committees on:

(a)  Requirements for a limited license;

(b)  The number of limited licenses issued and the number of limited license holders who were later accepted into a residency program; and

(c)  Whether and how limited licenses have increased the supply of health care providers in health professional shortage areas.

History:

[54-1867, added 2023, ch. 101, sec. 1, p. 301.]