Arizona House advances bill to let experienced foreign-trained doctors practice under supervision

The Arizona House of Representatives voted in committee to advance Senate Bill 11‑08 as amended, a measure that would allow certain foreign‑trained physicians with prior practice under supervision to work in Arizona under another physician’s oversight.

Supporters said the change is intended to ease a growing physician shortage that is affecting rural hospitals. Representative Bliss, sponsor in the House Health and Human Services Committee, said the state faces critical staffing shortfalls and described hospitals temporarily closing services and transporting patients for care. "We are going to, at this rate, be 8,300 physicians short," Representative Bliss said, citing workforce estimates discussed on the floor.

The bill’s supporters said the measure includes guardrails: qualifying physicians would practice under a supervising doctor who is "equal or above them," and the change is intended to speed licensed practice for physicians who have been working abroad rather than requiring them to repeat U.S. residency slots. Bliss said foreign‑trained doctors make up about one in five Arizona physicians and that the bill would improve access to care in underserved areas.

Opponents, including Representative Liguori and Representative Heap, urged caution. Liguori said Arizona already has licensing pathways for foreign‑trained physicians and warned that the bill may not provide pathways to board certification or hospital privileges, limiting employment opportunities and threatening retention in rural areas. Heap questioned whether the measure would attract appropriate specialists for rural practice and argued that expanding residency slots and other steps would better address shortages.

Representative Kupper offered and the body adopted a technical floor amendment intended to correct adjudicative language. After adoption of committee and floor amendments, the committee recommended the bill do pass; the recommendation was reported to the full House and advanced to engrossing.

The debate mixed access‑to‑care arguments with concerns about clinical oversight and long‑term workforce strategy. Supporters pointed to specific local impacts, including temporary suspension of obstetrics at Lake Havasu Regional Medical Center and higher patient transfers to Phoenix and Las Vegas facilities; opponents stressed board certification and hospital credentialing as unresolved issues.

The measure moves forward as amended; the transcript records committee motions, committee and floor amendments adopted, and the committee recommendation to report SB 11‑08 as do pass.

Ending: The bill now proceeds in the House process as amended; further committee or floor votes and any roll call tallies will be recorded in subsequent House minutes.