Chapter 615 Oregon Laws 2009

AN ACT

HB 2435

Relating to licensing of physicians; and prescribing an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. Section 2 of this 2009 Act is added to and made a part of ORS chapter 677.

SECTION 2. (1) On or before January 1, 2010, the Oregon Medical Board shall implement an expedited physician licensing process that allows the board to issue a license by endorsement to a qualified physician. To be considered for a license by endorsement, a physician:

          (a)(A) Must have practiced the physician’s specialty, if any, for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the physician’s application for licensure by endorsement; or

          (B) If the physician is retired, must have been retired for one year or less;

          (b) May not have been subject to discipline by a health professional regulatory board in any state in which the physician has been licensed; and

          (c) May not have been held liable for a significant malpractice claim as defined by the board by rule.

          (2) The licensing process implemented by the board must require the board to:

          (a) Use existing databases to verify application information; and

          (b) Accept documents from the state in which the applicant was first licensed as a physician as equivalent to primary source documents to verify:

          (A) Medical education;

          (B) National medical examination scores;

          (C) Postgraduate training, if applicable; and

          (D) Other qualifications as provided by rule of the board.

SECTION 3. The Oregon Medical Board shall report to the Seventy-sixth Legislative Assembly in the manner provided in ORS 192.245 on or before January 31, 2011, on the issuance of licenses by endorsement under section 2 of this 2009 Act.

SECTION 4. This 2009 Act takes effect on the 91st day after the date on which the regular session of the Seventy-fifth Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die.

Approved by the Governor June 26, 2009

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 26, 2009

Effective date September 28, 2009

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