California
CME and CE Auditing in California to Increase Significantly
The Medical Board of California's Licensing Program has announced that the number of audits conducted for continuing medical education (CME) compliance by physicians and continuing education (CE) compliance by licensed midwives has increased from 1% to 10%.
Under California law, physicians (including special faculty permit holders) must complete at least 50 hours of approved CME during each biennial renewal cycle. Licensed midwives must complete 36 hours of approved CE in each two-year renewal cycle.
In order to make sure licensees are complying with continuing education requirements, the Board is required by law to audit a randomly selected group of physicians who have certified that they have complied with CME requirements by signing the CME certification statement on their license renewal notice. The Board must also audit a randomly selected group of licensed midwives who have signed the statement attesting to CE completion on their license renewal notice. Such audits occur monthly. The CME/CE requirements were put in place to ensure that licensees keep up with current medical knowledge.
Recent streamlining within the Licensing Program has allowed the Board to allocate staff resources for increased CME and CE auditing.
Source: Medical Board of California Newsletter, Fall 2018
Kentucky
Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure Releases Annual Report
The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure has released its 2018 Annual Report of activities and statistics, including new licensing and disciplinary data.
According to the report, the Board considered 1,399 applications for various licenses to practice in the state over the last year. As a result, 1,103 new medical licenses were granted and 204 osteopathic licenses were issued. The Board also issued 741 temporary permits to practice in the state, along with more than 300 residency training licenses, institutional training licenses, and faculty licenses. There are 11,681 physicians registered to practice in Kentucky, with an additional 6,270 registered out of the state but eligible to practice.
The Board also certified 147 new physician assistants, bringing the total number of physician assistants in Kentucky to 1,383. The Board also certified 115 new athletic trainers, bringing the total number of certified athletic trainers in the state to 618.
The Board certified 15 new surgical assistants, for a total of 212, and five new acupuncturists, for a total of 90. The Board also regulates Genetic Counselors, of which there are 84 licensed in the state.
This year, the Board's Inquiry/Hearing Panels met 12 times and reviewed 373 cases, which included 295 investigative reports. Disciplinary proceedings were authorized in 93 cases.
Source: Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure Newsletter, Fall 2018
Ohio
Confidential Monitoring Program Rules for Licensees with Mental or Physical Illnesses Now Effective in Ohio
New rules in Ohio have created a non-disciplinary, confidential monitoring program for medical licensees in the state who are unable to safely practice without monitoring due to mental or physical illness other than substance use disorders. The confidential program allows such individuals to receive treatment and be monitored by the State Medical Board of Ohio without triggering a public, formal disciplinary action.
The rules establish the eligibility criteria for program participants and the participation requirements for individuals in the confidential monitoring program. Disqualification from continued participation in the program and termination of the participation agreement for the confidential monitoring program are also addressed in the rules.
Under the board's investigative duties, the secretary and supervising member of the board may determine that an individual who is the subject of an investigation by the board concerning a mental or physical illness, other than a substance use disorder or chemical abuse/dependency, is appropriate for ongoing investigative observation and monitoring rather than formal disciplinary action. Upon such determination, the board may conduct such observation and monitoring through the individual's participation in a confidential monitoring program overseen by the secretary and supervising member of the board under the board's investigative duties and subject to the applicable confidentiality statute.
Source: State Medical Board of Ohio Newsletter, August 2018
Oregon
Oregon Medical Board Chooses New Executive Director
The Oregon Medical Board (OMB) has announced the selection of Nicole Krishnaswami, JD, as its new Executive Director.
Krishnaswami had been serving as OMB's Interim Executive Director following the retirement of Kathleen Haley, JD, who had served as Executive Director for the past 24 years.
Prior to her appointment as Interim Executive Director, Krishnaswami had served OMB as Legislative and Policy Analyst since 2010. As a part of her work, she served as OMB's Rules Coordinator, responsible for drafting and maintaining the Board's administrative rules and responding to regulatory questions. She also led the Board's Communications Team, which is responsible for overseeing Board publications and responding to general public, stakeholder, and media inquiries.
Krishnaswami earned a law degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
Source: Oregon Medical Board Report, Fall 2018
Washington
New Medical Marijuana Guidelines Issued by Medical Regulators in Washington
The Washington Medical Commission recently issued new guidelines for practitioners who authorize medical marijuana. The Medical Commission worked with the state's Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission, and Board of Naturopathy to develop uniform guidelines for all practitioners with authority to authorize medical marijuana.
The new guidelines cover key elements of treatment with medical marijuana, ranging from patient history and physical examination to treatment plans. Washington's recently revised laws governing medical marijuana, which took effect July 1, 2018, include new provisions of importance to clinicians practicing in the state:
All medical marijuana authorizations are required to be printed on authorization tamper-resistant paper containing a specialized logo.
An authorization for medical marijuana in the state may be renewed only upon completion of an in-person physical examination.
The guidelines also recommend that practitioners issuing authorizations for medical marijuana complete a minimum of three hours of continuing education related to medical marijuana. In response, Washington has developed a new accredited, online continuing medical education course, titled “Washington State Healthcare Provider Education: Medical Use of Marijuana.” Learners have one year after activation to complete the mobile-friendly course.
Source: Washington Medical Commission Update, Sept. 21, 2018
