FIRSTREGULARSESSION
HOUSEBILLNO.1198
103RDGENERALASSEMBLY
INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVESTINNETT.
1781H.01I JOSEPHENGLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Toamendchapter334,RSMo,byaddingtheretoonenewsectionrelatingtothelicensureof
internationalphysicians,withadelayedeffectivedate.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Chapter334,RSMo,isamendedbyaddingtheretoonenewsection,tobe
2knownassection334.042,toreadasfollows:
334.042.1.Theprovisionsofthissectionshallbeknownandmaybecitedasthe
2"ExpandingPhysicianAccessActof2025".
3 2.Asusedinthissection,thefollowingtermsmean:
4 (1)"Healthcareprovider",anyindividual,entity,corporation,person,or
5organization,whetherforprofitornonprofit,thatfurnishes,bills,orispaidforhealth
6careproceduresorservicedeliveriesinthenormalcourseofbusiness.Theterm"health
7careprovider"includes,butisnotlimitedto,healthsystems,hospitals,hospital-based
8facilities,federallyqualifiedhealthcenters,freestandingemergencyfacilities,and
9urgentcareclinics;
10 (2)"Internationalmedicalprogram",anymedicalschool,residencyprogram,
11medicalinternshipprogram,orentitythatprovidesprospectivephysicianswitha
12medicaleducationortrainingthat:
13 (a)MeetseligibilityrequirementsestablishedbytheEducationalCommission
14forForeignMedicalGraduates(ECFMG)foritsgraduatestoapplytoECFMGfor
15ECFMGcertificationandexamination;or
16 (b)Issubstantiallysimilartothemedicaleducationortrainingrequiredbythe
17boardforlicensureasaphysicianinthisstate;
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 18 (3)"Internationalphysician",anyindividualwho:
19 (a)Hasbeengrantedamedicaldoctorateorsubstantiallysimilardegreebya
20domesticorinternationalmedicalprogramofgoodstanding;
21 (b)Hasbeeningoodstandingwiththemedicallicensingorregulatory
22institutionoftheindividual'slicensingcountrywithinthepreviousfiveyearsanddoes
23nothaveanypendingdisciplinebeforesuchlicensingorregulatoryinstitution;
24 (c)Hascompletedaresidencyorsubstantiallysimilarpostgraduatemedical
25trainingprogramorhaspracticedasamedicalprofessionalperformingthedutiesofa
26physicianintheindividual'slicensingcountryforatleastsevenyearsafterthe
27completionofthedegreedescribedinparagraph(a)ofthissubdivision;
28 (d)Haspracticedmedicineasafullylicensedorotherwiseauthorizedphysician
29intheindividual'slicensingcountryforatleastfiveyearsafterthecompletionof
30residencytrainingortrainingorpracticeequivalenttoresidencytrainingunder
31paragraph(c)ofthissubdivision;
32 (e)HasobtainedcertificationbytheEducationalCommissionforForeign
33MedicalGraduates,asuccessororganization,oranotherevaluationentityapprovedby
34theboard;
35 (f)HaspassedSteps1,2,and3oftheUnitedStatesMedicalLicensing
36Examination;and
37 (g)PossessesbasicfluencyintheEnglishlanguage;
38 (4)"Physician",anyindividualwhohasobtainedamedicaldoctorateor
39substantiallysimilardegreeandislicensedtopracticemedicineinsideoroutsidethe
40UnitedStates;
41 (5)"Sponsoringhealthcareprovider",ahealthcareproviderwhoemploysan
42internationalphysicianaftermakinganofferofemploymentthatqualifiesthe
43internationalphysicianforprovisionallicensureunderthissection.
44 3.Theboardshallgrantaprovisionallicensetopracticemedicineinthisstateto
45anyinternationalphysicianwithanofferforemploymentasaphysicianfromany
46healthcareproviderthatoperatesinthisstateaslongastheinternationalphysicianis
47eligibletoobtainafederalimmigrationstatusthatallowshimorhertopracticeasa
48physicianintheUnitedStates.
49 4.Theboardmayrevokeaprovisionallicensegrantedunderthissectionifthe
50internationalphysicianisnotemployedbyahealthcareproviderthatoperatesinthis
51stateduringtheperiodofprovisionallicensure.
52 5.(1)Theboardmayalsorevokeaprovisionallicensegrantedunderthis
53sectionbasedonclearandconvincingevidencethatmedicalservicesprovidedbythe
54licenseehaveviolatedthestate'smedicalsafety,competency,orconductstandards.
HB1198 2 55 (2)Alicenseemayappealtherevocationofhisorherprovisionallicenseunder
56thissubsectiontoastatecourtofcompetentjurisdictionovertheboardwithinone
57hundredtwentydaysoftherevocationoftheprovisionallicense.Thecourtshall
58reinstatetheprovisionallicenseifitfindsthattheboard'sactionsdidnotmeetthe
59standardsinsubdivision(1)ofthissubsection.
60 6.Theboardshallautomaticallyconvertaprovisionallicensedescribedinthis
61sectionintoafulllicensetopracticemedicineinthisstateafterthreeyearsofactive
62practiceinthisstatebythelicensee,providedthatthelicenseeremainsingoodstanding
63withtheboardandisnotunderinvestigationbytheboard.
64 7.Nothinginthissectionrequirestheboardtolicense,onaprovisionalorfull
65basis,aninternationalphysicianwithout:
66 (1)Evidenceofsimilartraining;
67 (2)Evidenceofsatisfactorypassageofexaminations;
68 (3)Satisfactoryresultsofabackgroundinvestigation;
69 (4)Completionofanapplicationforlicensure;and
70 (5)Paymentofallrequiredfees.
71 8.Internationalphysicianswhoarerequiredtoobtainfederalwork
72authorizationbeforecommencinganyworkforthesponsoringhealthcareprovider
73shallbeeligibletoapplyforaprovisionallicensepriortoreceivingfederalwork
74authorizationbutshallnotcommenceworkwithoutthenecessaryworkauthorization.
75 9.Internationalphysicianswhobecomefullylicensedundersubsection6ofthis
76sectionshallnotberequiredtomaintainemploymentwiththesponsoringhealthcare
77providerattheconclusionoftheperiodofprovisionallicensure.
SectionB.Theenactmentofsection334.042ofthisactshallbecomeeffectiveon
2January1,2026.
âś”
HB1198 3