Alabama
Inaugural Licensing Summit Held
In Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners and Medical Licensure Commission's continuing efforts to liaise with stakeholders to provide more streamlined services to them and to licensees, the inaugural 2025 Licensing Summit in Montgomery took place this past February.
The Credentialing Department, along with other staff, presented information about regulations and rules regarding physician licenses. In attendance were stakeholders including medical staff personnel and postgraduate training program coordinators who assist healthcare practitioners with licenses and registrations. The feedback for this summit was extremely positive, and the Board plans to offer this event annually.
Source: Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners and Medical Licensure Commission Medical Digest (Summer 2025 edition)
Georgia
Streamlined Physician Licensure Process Enacted
The Georgia Composite Medical Board (GCMB) has streamlined the physician licensure process by using the Federation Credential Verification Service (FCVS) to obtain primary-source verification of credentials, eliminating the need for applicants to submit documents like medical school transcripts and board certifications. Additionally, GCMB will soon replace personal character references with fingerprint-based FBI background checks, with further instructions to be provided once the new system is online.
In the past applications were frequently held up because one or more documents were missing, however with these new changes the process is more transparent for the applicant. Once the medical board has received a completed application, the process of approval of “clean” applications are usually quick and straightforward.
Further information is available at https://medical-board.georgia.gov/press-releases
Ohio
Joint Regulatory Statement Released
In response to the increasing number of retail IV therapy clinics operating in the state, the State Medical Board of Ohio, Ohio Board of Pharmacy, and Ohio Board of Nursing (collectively the “Boards”) issued a joint regulatory statement highlighting critical patient safety concerns and the importance of regulatory compliance in this emerging sector.
This regulatory statement is based upon existing Ohio laws and rules governing the scope and standards of care and compounding of drugs that are performed by individuals within these clinics. The Boards urge all licensed professionals to review their legal responsibilities and confirm compliance with state laws and rules as outlined in the joint regulatory statement.
The full statement is available at https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/v1747310354/med.ohio.gov/laws-and-regulations/Position%20Statements/Joint_Regulatory_Statement_on_the_Operation_of_Retail_IV_Therapy_Clinics_in_Ohio.pdf?utm_source=BenchmarkEmail&utm_campaign=June_2025_eNews&utm_medium=email
Oregon
Board of Osteopathic Medicine Recognized
On April 23, 2025, the Oregon Medical Board received the Administrators in Medicine's “2025 Best of Boards Award” for the development and adoption of its Disciplinary Guidelines, which provide the relevant aggravating and mitigating factors that the Board considers in its deliberations. The Guidelines were refined through a series of public meetings with representatives from professional associations, attorneys who frequently represent licensees under investigation, and patient advocates.
A copy of the guidelines is available at https://www.oregon.gov/omb/Newsletter/Spring%202025.pdf
South Dakota
Mandatory Practice Agreements Removed
On March 27, 2025, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed bill HB 1071 into law. This legislation modernizes Physician Associate (PA) practice in the state by eliminating the requirement for PAs to have a collaboration agreement with a specific physician after 6,000 hours, which is equivalent to three years of full-time practice.
Governor Larry Rhoden signed HB 1071 along with other bills he labeled, “Taking Care of People,” and held a ceremonial signing on March 31, 2025 with leaders from the South Dakota Academy of PAs (SDAPA) in attendance.
The law took effect on July 1, 2025.
Further information is available at https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2025/03/south-dakota-governor-signs-legislation-removing-mandatory-practice-agreements/
Washington
Cultural Beliefs and Health Practices Among Immigrant Communities
Washington State is home to a diverse and rapidly growing immigrant population, with individuals from Mexico, India, and China representing the top three countries of birth for foreign-born residents. Whether practicing in urban centers like Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma, or in rural communities across the state, medical providers are likely to care for patients from these diverse backgrounds.
Understanding the cultural beliefs, health practices, and communication styles of these communities can help providers build trust, improve adherence to treatment plans, and ultimately achieve better health outcomes. An article in the Spring 2025 edition of the Washington Medical Commission Update highlights common cultural misunderstandings that arise in clinical settings and offers practical strategies to deliver culturally responsive care.
The complete article is available at https://wmc.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/Newsletter/2025Spring/WMCUpdateSpring2025.pdf
