California
Regulations Adopted to Monitor Substance-Abusing Physicians in California
New regulations will take effect this summer in California to implement 2008 legislation from Senate Bill (SB) 1441, designed to protect the public by monitoring physicians and other healing arts professionals impaired by drug or alcohol abuse.
The new regulations spell out uniform standards for dealing with substance-abusing health care professionals, including detailing how physicians will be monitored during probationary periods. These details include the mechanics of random biological fluid testing on any day, at any time, including weekends and holidays. The physician, if permitted to work, may be monitored in the workplace and/or be required to attend support group meetings. Violation of any of the new regulations can result in permanent loss of the physician's license to practice medicine. All costs associated with disciplining the substance abuser will be borne by the licensee.
THE NEW REGULATIONS SPELL OUT UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE-ABUSING HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING DETAILING HOW PHYSICIANS WILL BE MONITORED DURING PROBATIONARY PERIODS.
Kimberly Kirchmeyer, Executive Director of the Medical Board of California, said the new regulations will “ensure consistent standards are applied to all disciplinary orders issued against substance-abusing physicians and will further the Board's mission of consumer protection.”
“The regulations also promote rehabilitation of the licensee,” she added.
Kirchmeyer served with other executive officers from the state's healing arts boards on the Substance Abuse Coordination Committee created by the state's Department of Consumer Affairs as a requirement of SB 1441.
Source: Medical Board of California news release, June 12, 2015
Idaho
Idaho Board Releases Annual Licensure Information
The Idaho Board of Medicine issued 503 new medical (MD) physician licenses in 2014 and renewed an additional 4,613 MD licenses, while issuing 70 new osteopathic (DO) licenses and renewing 536 DO licenses for the same period, according to its recently released 2014 Medicine Licensure Report.
Idaho issued new licenses to 82 physician assistants in 2014 and renewed the licenses of 709 more.
The Board opened 244 disciplinary cases in 2014, with seven licenses being revoked, surrendered or suspended. It issued 15 reprimands or admonitions.
Source: Idaho Board of Medicine Report, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2015
Iowa
Iowa Board Issues 2014 Annual Report on Licensure, Regulatory Activities
The Iowa Board of Medicine has issued its 2O14 Annual Report, summarizing the agency's licensure and regulatory activities.
In 2014, the board administered active licenses for 11,538 physicians and 52 licensed acupuncturists. It received 647 complaints and mandatory reports and completed reviews or investigations of 726 case files.
The board took 66 public disciplinary actions and issued 90 confidential letters of warning and education. It filed charges against 34 physicians and issued six public consent agreements.
During 2014, the board assessed civil penalties totaling $65,000 involving 16 cases.
During the year, it amended or promulgated three administrative rules, including one to expedite licensure of veterans who are qualified to practice medicine or acupuncture. It also held seven two-day administrative meetings, five teleconference meetings, and two disciplinary hearings.
Source: Iowa Board of Medicine news release, April 6, 2015
New rule sets standards of practice in Iowa for physicians who use telemedicine
The Iowa Board of Medicine has established a new administrative rule that sets standards of practice for physicians who use telemedicine in the state.
Iowa Administrative Code 653—13.11 defines telemedicine, explains how a valid physician-patient relationship can be established in a telemedicine setting, and identifies technology requirements for physicians who use electronic communications, information technology or other means of interaction with patients who are not physically present. The rule requires out-of-state physicians to have a valid Iowa medical license if they diagnose and treat patients located in Iowa.
The rule recognizes that telemedicine can provide important benefits for patients, including increased access to health care, expanded use of medical specialty expertise, and prompt access to medical records.
Iowa's standards emphasize that physicians using telemedicine will be held to the same standards of care and professional ethics as physicians who provide traditional in-person medical care.
Source: Iowa Board of Medicine news release, June 3, 2015
Kentucky
Kentucky Releases Physician Licensure Statistics
The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure recently released statistics from its annual renewal cycle for physician licensure. According to the Board, 95% of Kentucky physicians utilized the state online renewal service over the last year, with a total of 15,626 physicians renewing medical and osteopathic licenses. Of the total, 10,064 physicians reported a practice address in Kentucky.
The Board's statistics show that 4,792 physicians in the state are in private practice and 2,722 are hospital based. Others represent a wide range of categories, from academic medicine to public health and government.
Of Kentucky's total physician workforce, 7,648 are male and 2,977 are female. The state has 9,965 medical (MD) physicians and 660 osteopathic (DO) physicians. A total of 4,381 of in-state physicians attended medical school in Kentucky, while 3,967 attended medical school somewhere else in the United States and 2,277 attended medical school internationally.
Source: Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure Newsletter, Spring 2015
Maine
New Executive Director Joins Maine Board
Dennis E. Smith, JD, has joined the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine as its new Executive Director.
Prior to his new position, Smith served for more than 14 years as Assistant Attorney General in the State of Maine Office of Attorney General. During that time he worked within the Professional and Financial Regulation Division, providing legal advice and support to a number of occupational and professional licensing boards.
For the past eight years, he served as the legal counsel assigned to the Board of Licensure in Medicine. He also represented the state during Board adjudicatory hearings involving discipline and licensure.
Source: Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine newsletter, Spring 2015
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