1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; modifying licensure requirement for osteopathic physicians; 
1.3 	making technical changes to the composition of the Board of Medical Practice;
1.4 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 147.01, subdivisions 1, 2; 147.02, 
1.5 	subdivision 1; 147.03, subdivision 1; 147.037, subdivision 1; 147.091, 
1.6 	subdivision 1.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.01, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Creation; terms. The Board of Medical Practice consists of 16 
1.10 	residents of the state of Minnesota appointed by the governor. Ten Eleven board members 
1.11 	must hold a degree of doctor of medicine and be licensed to practice medicine under 
1.12 	this chapter. Not less than At least one board member must hold a degree of doctor of 
1.13 	osteopathy and either be licensed to practice osteopathy under Minnesota Statutes 1961, 
1.14 	sections 148.11 to 148.16; prior to May 1, 1963, or be licensed to practice medicine under 
1.15 	this chapter medicine, and at least one board member must hold a degree of doctor of 
1.16 	osteopathic medicine. Five board members must be public members as defined by section 
1.17 	214.02. The governor shall make appointments to the board which reflect the geography of 
1.18 	the state. In making these appointments, the governor shall ensure that no more than one 
1.19 	public member resides in each United States congressional district, and that at least one 
1.20 	member who is not a public member resides in each United States congressional district. 
1.21 	The board members holding the degree of doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic 
1.22 	medicine must, as a whole, reflect the broad mix of expertise of physicians practicing in 
1.23 	Minnesota. A member may be reappointed but shall not serve more than eight years 
1.24 	consecutively. Membership terms, compensation of members, removal of members, 
1.25 	the filling of membership vacancies, and fiscal year and reporting requirements are as 
2.1 	provided in sections 214.07 to 214.09. The provision of staff, administrative services and 
2.2 	office space; the review and processing of complaints; the setting of board fees; and other 
2.3 	provisions relating to board operations are as provided in chapter 214.

2.4 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.01, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.5 		Subd. 2.Recommendations for appointment. Prior to the end of the term of a 
2.6 	doctor of medicine or public member on the board, or within 60 days after a doctor of 
2.7 	medicine or public member position on the board becomes vacant, the State Medical 
2.8 	Association, the Mental Health Association of Minnesota, and other interested persons and 
2.9 	organizations may recommend to the governor doctors of medicine and public members 
2.10 	qualified to serve on the board. Prior to the end of the term of a doctor of osteopathy 
2.11 	an osteopathic physician, or within 60 days after a doctor of osteopathy an osteopathic 
2.12 	physician membership becomes vacant, the Minnesota Osteopathic Medical Society may 
2.13 	recommend to the governor three doctors of osteopathy osteopathic physicians qualified 
2.14 	to serve on the board. The governor may appoint members to the board from the list of 
2.15 	persons recommended or from among other qualified candidates.

2.16 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.02, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.17 		Subdivision 1.United States or Canadian medical school graduates. The board 
2.18 	shall issue a license to practice medicine to a person not currently licensed in another state 
2.19 	or Canada and who meets the requirements in paragraphs (a) to (i).
2.20 	(a) An applicant for a license shall file a written application on forms provided by 
2.21 	the board, showing to the board's satisfaction that the applicant is of good moral character 
2.22 	and satisfies the requirements of this section.
2.23 	(b) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board of being a graduate 
2.24 	of a medical or osteopathic medical school located in the United States, its territories 
2.25 	or Canada, and approved by the board based upon its faculty, curriculum, facilities, 
2.26 	accreditation by a recognized national accrediting organization approved by the board, 
2.27 	and other relevant data, or is currently enrolled in the final year of study at the school.
2.28 	(c) The applicant must have passed an examination as described in clause (1) or (2).
2.29 	(1) The applicant must have passed a comprehensive examination for initial licensure 
2.30 	prepared and graded by the National Board of Medical Examiners, the Federation of State 
2.31 	Medical Boards, the Medical Council of Canada, the National Board of Osteopathic 
2.32 	Examiners, or the appropriate state board that the board determines acceptable. The board 
2.33 	shall by rule determine what constitutes a passing score in the examination.
3.1 	(2) The applicant taking the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) 
3.2 	or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) must 
3.3 	have passed steps or levels one, two, and three. Step or level three must be passed 
3.4 	within five years of passing step or level two, or before the end of residency training. 
3.5 	The applicant must pass each of steps or levels one, two, and three with passing scores 
3.6 	as recommended by the USMLE program or National Board of Osteopathic Medical 
3.7 	Examiners within three attempts. The applicant taking combinations of Federation of State 
3.8 	Medical Boards, National Board of Medical Examiners, and USMLE may be accepted 
3.9 	only if the combination is approved by the board as comparable to existing comparable 
3.10 	examination sequences and all examinations are completed prior to the year 2000. The
3.11 	applicant taking the College of Osteopathic Medical Licensure Examination (COMLEX) 
3.12 	must pass all three steps within six attempts.
3.13 	(d) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board of the completion 
3.14 	of one year of graduate, clinical medical training in a program accredited by a national 
3.15 	accrediting organization approved by the board or other graduate training approved 
3.16 	in advance by the board as meeting standards similar to those of a national accrediting 
3.17 	organization.
3.18 	(e) The applicant may make arrangements with the executive director to appear in 
3.19 	person before the board or its designated representative to show that the applicant satisfies 
3.20 	the requirements of this section. The board may establish as internal operating procedures 
3.21 	the procedures or requirements for the applicant's personal presentation.
3.22 	(f) The applicant shall pay a fee established by the board by rule. The fee may not be 
3.23 	refunded. Upon application or notice of license renewal, the board must provide notice 
3.24 	to the applicant and to the person whose license is scheduled to be issued or renewed of 
3.25 	any additional fees, surcharges, or other costs which the person is obligated to pay as a 
3.26 	condition of licensure. The notice must:
3.27 	(1) state the dollar amount of the additional costs; and
3.28 	(2) clearly identify to the applicant the payment schedule of additional costs.
3.29 	(g) The applicant must not be under license suspension or revocation by the 
3.30 	licensing board of the state or jurisdiction in which the conduct that caused the suspension 
3.31 	or revocation occurred.
3.32 	(h) The applicant must not have engaged in conduct warranting disciplinary action 
3.33 	against a licensee, or have been subject to disciplinary action other than as specified in 
3.34 	paragraph (g). If the applicant does not satisfy the requirements stated in this paragraph, 
3.35 	the board may issue a license only on the applicant's showing that the public will be 
4.1 	protected through issuance of a license with conditions and limitations the board considers 
4.2 	appropriate.
4.3 	(i) If the examination in paragraph (c) was passed more than ten years ago, the 
4.4 	applicant must either:
4.5 	(1) pass the special purpose examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards 
4.6 	with a score of 75 or better within three attempts; or
4.7 	(2) have a current certification by a specialty board of the American Board of 
4.8 	Medical Specialties, of the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Professional 
4.9 	Education, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or of the College 
4.10 	of Family Physicians of Canada.

4.11 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.12 		Subdivision 1.Endorsement; reciprocity. (a) The board may issue a license to 
4.13 	practice medicine to any person who satisfies the requirements in paragraphs (b) to (f).
4.14 	(b) The applicant shall satisfy all the requirements established in section 147.02, 
4.15 	subdivision 1, paragraphs (a), (b), (d), (e), and (f).
4.16 	(c) The applicant shall:
4.17 	(1) have passed an examination prepared and graded by the Federation of State 
4.18 	Medical Boards, the National Board of Medical Examiners, or the United States Medical 
4.19 	Licensing Examination (USMLE) program in accordance with section 147.02, subdivision 
4.20 	1, paragraph (c), clause (2); the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners; or the 
4.21 	Medical Council of Canada; and
4.22 	(2) have a current license from the equivalent licensing agency in another state or 
4.23 	Canada and, if the examination in clause (1) was passed more than ten years ago, either:
4.24 	(i) pass the Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards 
4.25 	with a score of 75 or better within three attempts; or
4.26 	(ii) have a current certification by a specialty board of the American Board of 
4.27 	Medical Specialties, of the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Professional 
4.28 	Education, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or of the College of 
4.29 	Family Physicians of Canada; or
4.30 	(3) if the applicant fails to meet the requirement established in section 147.02, 
4.31 	subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (2), because the applicant failed to pass each of steps 
4.32 	one, two, and three of the USMLE within the required three attempts, the applicant may 
4.33 	be granted a license provided the applicant:
4.34 	(i) has passed each of steps one, two, and three with passing scores as recommended 
4.35 	by the USMLE program within no more than four attempts for any of the three steps;
5.1 	(ii) is currently licensed in another state; and
5.2 	(iii) has current certification by a specialty board of the American Board of Medical 
5.3 	Specialties, the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Professional Education, the 
5.4 	Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the College of Family Physicians 
5.5 	of Canada.
5.6 	(d) The applicant shall pay a fee established by the board by rule. The fee may 
5.7 	not be refunded.
5.8 	(e) The applicant must not be under license suspension or revocation by the licensing 
5.9 	board of the state or jurisdiction in which the conduct that caused the suspension or 
5.10 	revocation occurred.
5.11 	(f) The applicant must not have engaged in conduct warranting disciplinary action 
5.12 	against a licensee, or have been subject to disciplinary action other than as specified in 
5.13 	paragraph (e). If an applicant does not satisfy the requirements stated in this paragraph, the 
5.14 	board may issue a license only on the applicant's showing that the public will be protected 
5.15 	through issuance of a license with conditions or limitations the board considers appropriate.
5.16 	(g) Upon the request of an applicant, the board may conduct the final interview of 
5.17 	the applicant by teleconference.

5.18 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.037, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
5.19 		Subdivision 1.Requirements. The board shall issue a license to practice medicine 
5.20 	to any person who satisfies the requirements in paragraphs (a) to (g).
5.21 	(a) The applicant shall satisfy all the requirements established in section 147.02, 
5.22 	subdivision 1, paragraphs (a), (e), (f), (g), and (h).
5.23 	(b) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant 
5.24 	is a graduate of a medical or osteopathic school approved by the board as equivalent 
5.25 	to accredited United States or Canadian schools based upon its faculty, curriculum, 
5.26 	facilities, accreditation, or other relevant data. If the applicant is a graduate of a medical or 
5.27 	osteopathic program that is not accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education 
5.28 	or the American Osteopathic Association, the applicant may use the Federation of State 
5.29 	Medical Boards' Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) or its successor. If 
5.30 	the applicant uses this service as allowed under this paragraph, the physician application 
5.31 	fee may be less than $200 but must not exceed the cost of administering this paragraph.
5.32 	(c) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant 
5.33 	has been awarded a certificate by the Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates, 
5.34 	and the applicant has a working ability in the English language sufficient to communicate 
5.35 	with patients and physicians and to engage in the practice of medicine.
6.1 	(d) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board of the completion 
6.2 	of two years of graduate, clinical medical training in a program located in the United 
6.3 	States, its territories, or Canada and accredited by a national accrediting organization 
6.4 	approved by the board. This requirement does not apply:
6.5 	(1) to an applicant who is admitted as a permanent immigrant to the United States on 
6.6 	or before October 1, 1991, as a person of exceptional ability in the sciences according to 
6.7 	Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, section 656.22(d);
6.8 	(2) to an applicant holding a valid license to practice medicine in another country 
6.9 	and issued a permanent immigrant visa after October 1, 1991, as a person of extraordinary 
6.10 	ability in the field of science or as an outstanding professor or researcher according to 
6.11 	Code of Federal Regulations, title 8, section 204.5(h) and (i), or a temporary nonimmigrant 
6.12 	visa as a person of extraordinary ability in the field of science according to Code of 
6.13 	Federal Regulations, title 8, section 214.2(o),
6.14 	provided that a person under clause (1) or (2) is admitted pursuant to rules of the United 
6.15 	States Department of Labor; or
6.16 	(3) to an applicant who is licensed in another state, has practiced five years without 
6.17 	disciplinary action in the United States, its territories, or Canada, has completed one year 
6.18 	of the graduate, clinical medical training required by this paragraph, and has passed the 
6.19 	Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards within three 
6.20 	attempts in the 24 months before licensing.
6.21 	(e) The applicant must:
6.22 	(1) have passed an examination prepared and graded by the Federation of State 
6.23 	Medical Boards, the United States Medical Licensing Examination program in accordance 
6.24 	with section 147.02, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (2), or the Medical Council 
6.25 	of Canada; and
6.26 	(2) have a current license from the equivalent licensing agency in another state or 
6.27 	country and, if the examination in clause (1) was passed more than ten years ago, either:
6.28 	(i) pass the Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards 
6.29 	with a score of 75 or better within three attempts; or
6.30 	(ii) have a current certification by a specialty board of the American Board of 
6.31 	Medical Specialties, of the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Professional 
6.32 	Education, of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or of the College 
6.33 	of Family Physicians of Canada; or
6.34 	(3) if the applicant fails to meet the requirement established in section 147.02, 
6.35 	subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (2), because the applicant failed to pass each of steps 
7.1 	one, two, and three of the USMLE within the required three attempts, the applicant may 
7.2 	be granted a license provided the applicant:
7.3 	(i) has passed each of steps one, two, and three with passing scores as recommended 
7.4 	by the USMLE program within no more than four attempts for any of the three steps;
7.5 	(ii) is currently licensed in another state; and
7.6 	(iii) has current certification by a specialty board of the American Board of Medical 
7.7 	Specialties, the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Professional Education, the 
7.8 	Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the College of Family Physicians 
7.9 	of Canada.
7.10 	(f) The applicant must not be under license suspension or revocation by the licensing 
7.11 	board of the state or jurisdiction in which the conduct that caused the suspension or 
7.12 	revocation occurred.
7.13 	(g) The applicant must not have engaged in conduct warranting disciplinary action 
7.14 	against a licensee, or have been subject to disciplinary action other than as specified in 
7.15 	paragraph (f). If an applicant does not satisfy the requirements stated in this paragraph, the 
7.16 	board may issue a license only on the applicant's showing that the public will be protected 
7.17 	through issuance of a license with conditions or limitations the board considers appropriate.

7.18 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.091, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
7.19 		Subdivision 1.Grounds listed. The board may refuse to grant a license, may 
7.20 	refuse to grant registration to perform interstate telemedicine services, or may impose 
7.21 	disciplinary action as described in section 147.141 against any physician. The following 
7.22 	conduct is prohibited and is grounds for disciplinary action:
7.23 	(a) Failure to demonstrate the qualifications or satisfy the requirements for a license 
7.24 	contained in this chapter or rules of the board. The burden of proof shall be upon the 
7.25 	applicant to demonstrate such qualifications or satisfaction of such requirements.
7.26 	(b) Obtaining a license by fraud or cheating, or attempting to subvert the licensing 
7.27 	examination process. Conduct which subverts or attempts to subvert the licensing 
7.28 	examination process includes, but is not limited to: (1) conduct which violates the 
7.29 	security of the examination materials, such as removing examination materials from the 
7.30 	examination room or having unauthorized possession of any portion of a future, current, or 
7.31 	previously administered licensing examination; (2) conduct which violates the standard of 
7.32 	test administration, such as communicating with another examinee during administration 
7.33 	of the examination, copying another examinee's answers, permitting another examinee 
7.34 	to copy one's answers, or possessing unauthorized materials; or (3) impersonating an 
7.35 	examinee or permitting an impersonator to take the examination on one's own behalf.
8.1 	(c) Conviction, during the previous five years, of a felony reasonably related to the 
8.2 	practice of medicine or osteopathy. Conviction as used in this subdivision shall include 
8.3 	a conviction of an offense which if committed in this state would be deemed a felony 
8.4 	without regard to its designation elsewhere, or a criminal proceeding where a finding or 
8.5 	verdict of guilt is made or returned but the adjudication of guilt is either withheld or 
8.6 	not entered thereon.
8.7 	(d) Revocation, suspension, restriction, limitation, or other disciplinary action 
8.8 	against the person's medical license in another state or jurisdiction, failure to report to the 
8.9 	board that charges regarding the person's license have been brought in another state or 
8.10 	jurisdiction, or having been refused a license by any other state or jurisdiction.
8.11 	(e) Advertising which is false or misleading, which violates any rule of the board, 
8.12 	or which claims without substantiation the positive cure of any disease, or professional 
8.13 	superiority to or greater skill than that possessed by another physician.
8.14 	(f) Violating a rule promulgated by the board or an order of the board, a state, or 
8.15 	federal law which relates to the practice of medicine, or in part regulates the practice of 
8.16 	medicine including without limitation sections 604.201, 609.344, and 609.345, or a state 
8.17 	or federal narcotics or controlled substance law.
8.18 	(g) Engaging in any unethical conduct; conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm 
8.19 	the public, or demonstrating a willful or careless disregard for the health, welfare or safety 
8.20 	of a patient; or medical practice which is professionally incompetent, in that it may create 
8.21 	unnecessary danger to any patient's life, health, or safety, in any of which cases, proof 
8.22 	of actual injury need not be established.
8.23 	(h) Failure to supervise a physician assistant or failure to supervise a physician 
8.24 	under any agreement with the board.
8.25 	(i) Aiding or abetting an unlicensed person in the practice of medicine, except that 
8.26 	it is not a violation of this paragraph for a physician to employ, supervise, or delegate 
8.27 	functions to a qualified person who may or may not be required to obtain a license or 
8.28 	registration to provide health services if that person is practicing within the scope of that 
8.29 	person's license or registration or delegated authority.
8.30 	(j) Adjudication as mentally incompetent, mentally ill or developmentally disabled, 
8.31 	or as a chemically dependent person, a person dangerous to the public, a sexually 
8.32 	dangerous person, or a person who has a sexual psychopathic personality by a court of 
8.33 	competent jurisdiction, within or without this state. Such adjudication shall automatically 
8.34 	suspend a license for the duration thereof unless the board orders otherwise.
8.35 	(k) Engaging in unprofessional conduct. Unprofessional conduct shall include 
8.36 	any departure from or the failure to conform to the minimal standards of acceptable 
9.1 	and prevailing medical practice in which proceeding actual injury to a patient need not 
9.2 	be established.
9.3 	(l) Inability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients by 
9.4 	reason of illness, drunkenness, use of drugs, narcotics, chemicals or any other type of 
9.5 	material or as a result of any mental or physical condition, including deterioration through 
9.6 	the aging process or loss of motor skills.
9.7 	(m) Revealing a privileged communication from or relating to a patient except when 
9.8 	otherwise required or permitted by law.
9.9 	(n) Failure by a doctor of osteopathy osteopathic medicine to identify the school 
9.10 	of healing in the professional use of the doctor's name by one of the following terms: 
9.11 	osteopathic physician and surgeon, doctor of osteopathy, or D.O.
9.12 	(o) Improper management of medical records, including failure to maintain adequate 
9.13 	medical records, to comply with a patient's request made pursuant to sections 144.291 to 
9.14 	144.298 or to furnish a medical record or report required by law.
9.15 	(p) Fee splitting, including without limitation:
9.16 	(1) paying, offering to pay, receiving, or agreeing to receive, a commission, rebate, 
9.17 	or remuneration, directly or indirectly, primarily for the referral of patients or the 
9.18 	prescription of drugs or devices;
9.19 	(2) dividing fees with another physician or a professional corporation, unless the 
9.20 	division is in proportion to the services provided and the responsibility assumed by each 
9.21 	professional and the physician has disclosed the terms of the division;
9.22 	(3) referring a patient to any health care provider as defined in sections 144.291 to 
9.23 	144.298 in which the referring physician has a "financial or economic interest," as defined 
9.24 	in section 144.6521, subdivision 3, unless the physician has disclosed the physician's 
9.25 	financial or economic interest in accordance with section 144.6521; and
9.26 	(4) dispensing for profit any drug or device, unless the physician has disclosed the 
9.27 	physician's own profit interest.
9.28 	The physician must make the disclosures required in this clause in advance and in writing 
9.29 	to the patient and must include in the disclosure a statement that the patient is free to 
9.30 	choose a different health care provider. This clause does not apply to the distribution 
9.31 	of revenues from a partnership, group practice, nonprofit corporation, or professional 
9.32 	corporation to its partners, shareholders, members, or employees if the revenues consist 
9.33 	only of fees for services performed by the physician or under a physician's direct 
9.34 	supervision, or to the division or distribution of prepaid or capitated health care premiums, 
9.35 	or fee-for-service withhold amounts paid under contracts established under other state law.
10.1 	(q) Engaging in abusive or fraudulent billing practices, including violations of the 
10.2 	federal Medicare and Medicaid laws or state medical assistance laws.
10.3 	(r) Becoming addicted or habituated to a drug or intoxicant.
10.4 	(s) Prescribing a drug or device for other than medically accepted therapeutic or 
10.5 	experimental or investigative purposes authorized by a state or federal agency or referring 
10.6 	a patient to any health care provider as defined in sections 144.291 to 144.298 for services 
10.7 	or tests not medically indicated at the time of referral.
10.8 	(t) Engaging in conduct with a patient which is sexual or may reasonably be 
10.9 	interpreted by the patient as sexual, or in any verbal behavior which is seductive or 
10.10 	sexually demeaning to a patient.
10.11 	(u) Failure to make reports as required by section 147.111 or to cooperate with an 
10.12 	investigation of the board as required by section 147.131.
10.13 	(v) Knowingly providing false or misleading information that is directly related 
10.14 	to the care of that patient unless done for an accepted therapeutic purpose such as the 
10.15 	administration of a placebo.
10.16 	(w) Aiding suicide or aiding attempted suicide in violation of section 609.215 as 
10.17 	established by any of the following:
10.18 	(1) a copy of the record of criminal conviction or plea of guilty for a felony in 
10.19 	violation of section 609.215, subdivision 1 or 2;
10.20 	(2) a copy of the record of a judgment of contempt of court for violating an 
10.21 	injunction issued under section 609.215, subdivision 4;
10.22 	(3) a copy of the record of a judgment assessing damages under section 609.215, 
10.23 	subdivision 5; or
10.24 	(4) a finding by the board that the person violated section 609.215, subdivision 
10.25 	1 or 2. The board shall investigate any complaint of a violation of section 609.215, 
10.26 	subdivision 1 or 2.
10.27 	(x) Practice of a board-regulated profession under lapsed or nonrenewed credentials.
10.28 	(y) Failure to repay a state or federally secured student loan in accordance with 
10.29 	the provisions of the loan.
10.30 	(z) Providing interstate telemedicine services other than according to section 147.032.

10.31 	Sec. 7. REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.
 10.32 	The revisor of statutes shall change the terms "osteopath" to "osteopathic physician" 
10.33 	and "osteopathy" to "osteopathic medicine" whenever they appear in Minnesota Statutes 
10.34 	and Minnesota Rules. The revisor of statutes shall also make grammatical changes 
10.35 	related to these changes.