Provides that limited permits to practice medicine may be renewed biennially; expands the types of facilities where permitees may practice; authorizes permits to be renewed at the discretion of the department of education; provides that such department shall not deny a limited permit based solely on the previous number of authorizations of such permits issued to the applicant.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5238
SPONSOR: Reyes TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to limited permits to
practice medicine
PURPOSE OF BILL:
To clarify areas of authorized practice and to ensure no limitations are
placed on the renewal of limited permits to practice medicine.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the Education Law to outline areas of authorized prac-
tice, the duration of limited permits, and to ensure no limitations are
placed on their biennial renewal.
Section 2 states the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
According to the Migration Policy Institute there are 12,300 under- or
unemployed internationally trained immigrants and refugees with a bach-
elor's degree or higher in health across New York State. With a shortage
of doctors within New York State, international medical graduates exist
as an untapped supply for our health workforce. Limited medical
permits, the only permit to practice available to foreign health work-
ers, last for two years with renewal at the discretion of the depart-
ment.
Current law considers the following persons eligible for a limited
permit: a person who fulfills physician licensing requirements except
those relating to the examination and citizenship or permanent residence
in the United States; a foreign physician who holds a standard certif-
icate from the educational council for foreign medical graduates (ECFMG)
or who has passed an examination satisfactory to the state board for
medicine in accordance with the commissioner's regulations; or a foreign
physician or intern in the United States on a non-immigration visa for
the continuation of medical study.
With the current limiting of permit renewals, foreign health workers can
only serve our health workforce and state for a limited time after which
their skills and expertise can no longer be used in our most vulnerable
communities. This bill would address this by expanding places of prac-
tice for permittees and ensuring no caps are placed on the renewal of
limited permits to practice medicine.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024 - A8382A/S7002B
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.
