2018 -- H 7572

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LC003805

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - PATIENT ACCESS EXPANSION ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Morgan, Filippi, Roberts, Giarrusso, and Nardolillo

     Date Introduced: February 09, 2018

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 5 of the General Laws entitled "BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS"

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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 37.8

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PATIENT ACCESS EXPANSION ACT

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     5-37.8-1. Title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "patient access expansion act."

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     5-37.8-2. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Continuous medical education" means continued postgraduate medical education

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intended to provide medical professionals with knowledge of new developments in their field.

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     (2) "Maintenance of certification" means any process requiring periodic recertification

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examinations to maintain specialty medical board certification.

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     (3) "Maintenance of licensure" means the Federation of State Medical Boards';

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proprietary framework for physician license renewal, including additional periodic testing other

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than continuous medical education.

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      (4) "Specialty medical board certification" means certification by a board that specializes

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in one particular area of medicine and typically requires additional and more strenuous exams

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than state boards of medicine requirements to practice medicine.

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     5-37.8-3. Prohibition of maintenance of licensure.

 

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     The state and its instrumentalities are prohibited from requiring any form of maintenance

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of licensure as a condition of physician licensure, including requiring any form of maintenance of

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licensure tied to maintenance of certification. Current requirements, including continuous medical

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education, shall suffice to demonstrate professional competency.

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     5-37.8-4. Prohibition of maintenance of certification to practice medicine.

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     The state and its instrumentalities are prohibited from requiring any form of specialty

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medical board certification and any maintenance of certification to practice medicine within the

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state. Within the state, there shall be no discrimination by the board of medical licensure and

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discipline, or any other agency or facility which accepts state funds, against physicians who do

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not maintain specialty medical board certification, including re-certification.

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     5-37.8-5. Severability.

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     If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances

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is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter,

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which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the

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provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.

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     5-37.8-6. Repealer.

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     All statutes and regulations in conflict with or inconsistent with the provisions of this

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chapter are hereby repealed.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - PATIENT ACCESS EXPANSION ACT

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     This act would prohibit the state from requiring any form of the Federation of State

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Medical Boards' proprietary maintenance of licensure program, including any maintenance of

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licensure program tied to maintenance of certification, as a condition of licensure, and from

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requiring specialty medical board certification and maintenance of certification in order to

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practice medicine within the state.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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