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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1757H.P. 1175House of Representatives, April 22, 2025
An Act to Update the Laws Governing Osteopathic Physician
Licensing
Submitted by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation pursuant to Joint
Rule 204.
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MATHIESON of Kittery. Page 1 - 132LR0429(01)
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2 as amended by PL 1997, c. 50, §2, is further
3 amended to read:
4 The board shall meet in June of each year hold regular monthly meetings and any
5 additional special meetings at a time and place the chair may designate. The board shall
6 elect one of its members as chair annually and one of its members as secretary-treasurer,
7 to hold office at the pleasure of the board. The secretary-treasurer shall ensure proper
8 management of the board's finances. Special meetings may be called at the pleasure of the
9 chair and in case of the death or inability of the chair, the secretary-treasurer may call
10 special meetings. The board shall cause a seal of suitable inscription to be procured and
11 affixed to papers that may require the seal, shall keep a correct record of its proceedings
12 and has power to make rules, not inconsistent with this chapter, it considers necessary for
13 the successful enforcement of its authority and the performance of its duties. As part of the
14 biennial relicensure process, the board shall prepare and distribute to each licensed
15 osteopathic physician practicing in the State a copy of its code of ethics and current rules
16 relative to continuing medical education. The chair and the secretary-treasurer may
17 administer oaths in matters connected with the duties of the board. The records of the board
18 must include a report of all money received and disbursed by the board and a list of all
19 applicants for licenses, including the name and location of the school or college of
20 osteopathic medicine approved by the American Osteopathic Association that granted the
21 degree to each applicant and whether the applicant was granted or denied a license. These
22 records, or duplicates, must always be open to inspection in the office of the Secretary of
23 State during regular office hours. Four members of the board constitute a quorum for the
24 transaction of business. A license to practice osteopathic medicine may not be granted,
25 except on an affirmative vote of a majority of the board.
26 as amended by PL 2001, c. 492, §1, is repealed and the
27 following enacted in its place:
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29 Except as otherwise specified by this chapter, an applicant for licensure as an
30 osteopathic physician in this State must satisfy the following requirements.
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32 school designated as accredited by the American Osteopathic Association's Commission
33 on Osteopathic College Accreditation.
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35 osteopathic medical school prior to January 1, 2026 must have satisfactorily completed at
36 least 12 months in a medical graduate educational program accredited by the Accreditation
37 Council on Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association. An
38 applicant who has graduated from an accredited osteopathic medical school on or after
39 January 1, 2026 must have satisfactorily completed at least 36 months in a graduate
40 educational program accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical
41 Education or the American Osteopathic Association.
42 The board may not require an applicant for initial licensure or license renewal as an
43 osteopathic physician under this chapter to obtain certification from a specialty medical
44 board or to complete maintenance of certification as a condition of licensure. For the Page 2 - 132LR0429(01)
45 purposes of this subsection, "maintenance of certification" means a program that requires
46 a physician to engage in periodic examination, self-assessment, peer evaluation or other
47 activities to maintain certification from a specialty medical board.
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5 the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners' Comprehensive Osteopathic
6 Medical Licensing Examination of the United States, known as the COMLEX-USA
7 examination, or other examinations designated by the board as the qualifying examination
8 or examinations for licensure.
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10 examination or examinations. Fees set in this chapter are nonrefundable application fees or
11 administrative processing fees payable to the board at the time of application or at the time
12 board action is requested.
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14 board finds that the applicant is qualified and no cause exists, as set forth in section 2591-A,
15 that may be considered grounds for disciplinary action against a licensed physician.
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17 administrative medicine, or any other special license, as set forth by routine technical rule
18 of the board adopted pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
19 as amended by PL 1997, c. 50, §4, is repealed.
20 as amended by PL 2001, c. 492, §2, is further amended to
21 read:
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23 An osteopathic physician in good repute who is a graduate of a school or college of
24 osteopathic medicine approved by the American Osteopathic Association, serving as a
25 fellow, an intern or resident physician in a hospital in this State, shall register with the board
26 and must be issued a temporary license by the board evidencing the right to practice only
27 under hospital control. Such a license may not be issued for a period in excess of one year
28 but may be renewed from time to time, not to exceed an aggregate of 5 years. The license
29 must be in a form prescribed by the board and may be revoked or suspended by the board
30 with the suspension or revocation effective immediately when written notification from the
31 board is received by the hospital. An examination may not be required for applicants for
32 this temporary license. The fee for such a license may not be more than $450.
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34 This bill changes the laws governing osteopathic physicians to:
35 1. Remove the provision that requires the Board of Osteopathic Licensure to meet in
36 June of each year and replace it with a requirement that the board hold regular monthly
37 meetings and any additional special meetings;
38 2. Remove the provision that provides that a license to practice osteopathic medicine
39 may not be granted except on an affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Osteopathic
40 Licensure;
41 3. Require applicants for licensure to meet minimum qualifications, including, for
42 applicants who graduate from an accredited osteopathic medical school after 2025,
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43 graduation from an osteopathic medical school accredited by the Commission on
44 Osteopathic College Accreditation, completion of at least 36 months in a graduate
45 educational program approved by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical
46 Education, achievement of a passing score on each component of the National Board of
47 Osteopathic Medical Examiners' COMLEX-USA examination and payment of a license
48 fee of up to $600; and
7 4. Eliminate the word "fellow" from the laws governing temporary licensure.
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