SF0155

Authorizes the Wyoming State Board of Medicine to grant provisional medical licenses to international physicians who meet specified education, experience, and examination requirements.

• Defines an 'international physician' as a person holding a medical doctorate from an accredited program, with at least 5 years of recent good standing with a medical licensing body, at least 7 years of medical practice experience, passing scores on all three steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), and basic English fluency. (W.S. 33-26-802(a)(iii))
• Authorizes the Board of Medicine to grant provisional licenses to international physicians with employment offers from health care providers operating in Wyoming, subject to criminal background investigation, required fees, and verification of federal work authorization eligibility. (W.S. 33-26-803(a))
• Allows international physicians to apply for provisional licenses before obtaining federal work authorization but prohibits them from commencing work without the required authorization. (W.S. 33-26-803(f))
• Permits the Board to revoke a provisional license if the international physician is not employed by a sponsoring health care provider during the provisional license period. (W.S. 33-26-803(a)(iii))
• Automatically converts provisional licenses to full licenses after 3 years of active practice without disciplinary action, provided the licensee complies with Board rules and continuing medical education requirements. (W.S. 33-26-803(c), W.S. 33-26-803(d))
• Allows international physicians to change employers after the provisional licensing period concludes without obligation to maintain employment with the original sponsoring health care provider. (W.S. 33-26-803(g))
• Makes provisional licenses subject to suspension and revocation under the existing Medical Practice Act disciplinary procedures, with appeal rights. (W.S. 33-26-803(b), W.S. 33-26-401 through 33-26-410)
• Directs the Board of Medicine to adopt rules and regulations implementing the international physician provisional licensing program.