HB1066 amends Pennsylvania’s Medical Practice Act of 1985 to create a new exception to the general rules governing temporary medical licenses. Under the bill, the State Board of Medicine would be required to grant a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine to certain temporary license holders who are graduates of international medical schools, have practiced as physicians for at least three years outside the United States, and meet specified qualifications.
To qualify, the applicant must be found competent by the board, remain in good standing two years after the temporary license is issued, and provide evidence of an offer of employment as a physician at a health care facility operating in Pennsylvania. The bill is intended to provide a pathway from temporary licensure to full licensure for experienced internationally trained physicians. It would take effect 60 days after enactment.
Impact
The bill would amend Section 33 of the Medical Practice Act of 1985 by adding a new subsection that limits the board’s discretion and requires issuance of a full and unrestricted medical license for a defined category of temporary licensees. This would affect the State Board of Medicine’s licensing authority, international medical graduates, and Pennsylvania health care facilities seeking to hire physicians. It could expand the physician workforce by easing licensure for qualified foreign-trained doctors who already have Pennsylvania job offers.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal floor or committee sentiment can be measured from the record. Based on the bill’s sponsors and subject matter, the measure appears to be framed as a workforce and access-to-care bill, suggesting generally supportive intent toward expanding the physician pipeline. No opposition is documented in the provided context.
Contention
The main policy issue is the balance between expanding access to licensure for internationally trained physicians and maintaining licensing standards. Supporters are likely to emphasize workforce shortages, faster integration of experienced doctors, and improved access to care, while potential critics may focus on whether the board should retain broader discretion over competency and whether the automatic conversion to a full and unrestricted license is sufficiently protective of patient safety. The bill also ties licensure to employment at a Pennsylvania health care facility, which may raise questions about how the requirement is verified and applied.
In licenses and regulations and liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for renewal of licenses and temporary provisions for licensees in armed service.
Further providing for power to license, for visiting team physician and for licenses, exemptions, nonresident practitioners, graduate students, biennial registration and continuing medical education.
In administrative provisions, further providing for definitions and for continuing medical education and providing for standards for initial licensure.
Amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), entitled "An act relating to the right to practice medicine and surgery and the right to practice medically related acts; reestablishing the State Board of Medical Education and Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and providing for its composition, powers and duties; providing for the issuance of licenses and certificates and the suspension and revocation of licenses and certificates; provided penalties; and making repeals," further providing for definitions, for midwifery and for nurse-midwife license; and providing for certified midwife license.