Committee reviews draft to create pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians

The Senate committee reviewed a revised draft of S.142 on a pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians, with staff and Department of Health counsel describing a rule-based program and a January 2027 reporting deadline.

Jennifer, of the Office of Legislative Counsel, told the committee she would post a new strike-all draft and that it "reflects the health department proposal," explaining the measure would ask the Department of Health and the Board of Medical Practice to provide to the committee a report on or before 01/15/2027 detailing a pathway to licensure, including summaries of other states' processes, available outcome data, external resources needed and proposed qualifications and supervision requirements.

Lauren Layman, general counsel for the Department of Health, said the draft directs the board to adopt rules under the Vermont Administrative Procedures Act and to identify qualifications for a provisional license as well as the criteria for full licensure after successful completion of that provisional period. "The rules shall be the least restrictive form of regulation necessary to protect the public interest," Layman said, noting the department will assist with research and learning from other states.

The draft defers several technical definitions to rulemaking, including a statutory definition of "internationally trained physician," so that the board and department can account for credentialing differences across countries. Layman said stakeholders such as World Education Services and the Windham County NAACP had been consulted and were supportive of compromise language.

Committee members asked whether the proposal requires an appropriation; staff replied there is "not yet" a fiscal note and the department will return if funding is needed. Members also discussed a malpractice-insurance provision that would require a participating health care facility's policy to cover the individual clinician; a representative of the Vermont Medical Society explained that, in practice, both employers and individual clinicians commonly hold malpractice coverage and the draft's provision aims to ensure individual coverage is named in the facility policy.

Members agreed to incorporate the department's edits and return with more testimony. The committee directed staff to have Jen update the draft and planned follow-up testimony and a final markup, with timing dependent on floor schedules; the department will produce the January report and the draft sets rulemaking to take effect 07/01/2027 and licensing authority to take effect 07/01/2028.