2017 -- S 1002

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LC002948

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE

ADVISABILITY OF RHODE ISLAND JOINING THE INTERSTATE MEDICAL

LICENSURE COMPACT

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Miller, and Crowley

     Date Introduced: June 29, 2017

     Referred To: Placed on Senate Calendar

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island continues to experience a shortage of physicians in several

specialties, particularly in mental and behavioral health; and

     WHEREAS, Pressures from a growing, aging and increasingly insured population are

calling on Rhode Island to address current and growing demand for physicians to adequately meet

health care needs; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island continues to face difficulties recruiting new physicians to

practice in the state; and

     WHEREAS, The Federation of State Medical Boards has recognized that many states

also suffer shortages in certain medical specialties; and

     WHEREAS, The Federation of State Medical Boards and the constituent state licensing

boards, including the Rhode Island Department of Health Board of Medical Licensure and

Discipline, established the Interstate Physician Compact to create a pathway for licensure for

qualified physicians; and

     WHEREAS, The Federation of State Medical Boards aims to provide a comprehensive

process that complements existing licensing and regulating authority of state boards, ensure the

safety of patients, and enhance the portability of a medical license; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island would retain its licensing and disciplinary authority, but

would agree to share information and processes essential to the licensing and regulation for

physicians who practice across state borders; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island General Assembly passed the Telemedicine Coverage Act

of 2016 to provide a reimbursement mechanism for telemedicine to enable the diagnosis,

consultation, treatment, education, care management, and self-management of patients; and

     WHEREAS, The appropriate application of telemedicine can enhance medical care and

by streamlining licensure, Rhode Island can provide an advanced solution to the physician

shortage in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Telemedicine allows for health care to be delivered right at a patient’s home

and without an effective licensure program across state lines, telehealth advancement is impeded;

and

     WHEREAS, The Compact would help expedite the licensure process by allowing static

information, such as medical education, and results of examinations, not have to have primary

source verification again if there has already been primary source verification by the principal

state of licensure, further providing a streamlined approached to licensure; therefore, be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of nine (9) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than

two (2) shall from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of

whom shall be the Director of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the

Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Health Insurance Commissioner, or designee; one of whom

shall be the President of the Rhode Island Medical Society, or designee; one of whom shall be a

member of the Rhode Island Society of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, to be appointed by

the President of the Senate; and one of whom shall be the CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of

Rhode Island, or designee.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to examine the advisability of Rhode Island

joining the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Chair, who shall be appointed by the President of the Senate from among the

commission's membership.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary or otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable

by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

President of the Senate on or before March 1, 2018, and said commission shall expire on June 1,

2018.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE

ADVISABILITY OF RHODE ISLAND JOINING THE INTERSTATE MEDICAL

LICENSURE COMPACT

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     This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to examine the advisability of Rhode Island joining the Interstate Medical

Licensure Compact, and who would report back to the President of the Senate on or before March

1, 2018, and said commission would expire on June 1, 2018.

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