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Panel advances measure to expedite out-of-state physician licensure; Medical Board expressed concerns about workload and effectiveness
Summary
AB 967 would expedite licensure for out-of-state physicians to address perceived shortages; the Medical Board of California opposed the bill in committee testimony saying it would increase workload without materially reducing application time frames because many delays stem from incomplete applicant documentation or complex individual reviews.
Assemblymember Valencia presented AB 967, a bill intended to expedite licensure for out-of-state physicians to address application delays and physician shortages in California.
Kevin Guzman of the California Medical Association sponsored the bill and answered technical questions. Aaron Bone of the Medical Board of California testified in opposition, saying the board shares the goal of increasing qualified providers but that the bill would increase the board’s workload without significantly reducing application processing times. Bone told the committee that issuance of a license depends on completion of all requirements and that delays often occur because applicants have not provided necessary documentation or because cases require further review for criminal history, prior discipline, postgraduate training or other issues.
Bone also said the bill’s fee-authority language was unclear because the board does not use a separate process for expedited applications. After hearing the Medical Board’s concerns, the committee moved the bill and reported AB 967 out on a roll call; the author stated the bill would not cost the state.
