Minnesota Session Laws - 2016, Regular Session

CHAPTER 119--H.F.No. 2445

An act

relating to health; modifying licensure requirement for osteopathic physicians; making technical changes to the composition of the Board of Medical Practice;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 147.01, subdivisions 1, 2; 147.02, subdivision 1; 147.03, subdivision 1; 147.037, subdivision 1; 147.091, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.01, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Creation; terms.

The Board of Medical Practice consists of 16 residents of the state of Minnesota appointed by the governor. deleted text begin Ten deleted text end new text begin Eleven new text end board members must deleted text begin hold a degree of doctor of medicine and deleted text end be licensed to practice medicine under this chapter. deleted text begin Not less than deleted text end new text begin At least new text end one board member must hold a degree of doctor of deleted text begin osteopathy and either be licensed to practice osteopathy under Minnesota Statutes 1961, sections 148.11 to 148.16; prior to May 1, 1963, or be licensed to practice medicine under this chapter deleted text end new text begin medicine, and at least one board member must hold a degree of doctor of osteopathic medicine new text end . Five board members must be public members as defined by section 214.02. The governor shall make appointments to the board which reflect the geography of the state. In making these appointments, the governor shall ensure that no more than one public member resides in each United States congressional district, and that at least one member who is not a public member resides in each United States congressional district. The board members holding the degree of doctor of medicine new text begin or doctor of osteopathic medicine new text end must, as a whole, reflect the broad mix of expertise of physicians practicing in Minnesota. A member may be reappointed but shall not serve more than eight years consecutively. Membership terms, compensation of members, removal of members, the filling of membership vacancies, and fiscal year and reporting requirements are as provided in sections 214.07 to 214.09. The provision of staff, administrative services and office space; the review and processing of complaints; the setting of board fees; and other provisions relating to board operations are as provided in chapter 214.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.01, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Recommendations for appointment.

Prior to the end of the term of a doctor of medicine or public member on the board, or within 60 days after a doctor of medicine or public member position on the board becomes vacant, the State Medical Association, the Mental Health Association of Minnesota, and other interested persons and organizations may recommend to the governor doctors of medicine and public members qualified to serve on the board. Prior to the end of the term of deleted text begin a doctor of osteopathy deleted text end new text begin an osteopathic physician new text end , or within 60 days after deleted text begin a doctor of osteopathy deleted text end new text begin an osteopathic physician new text end membership becomes vacant, the Minnesota Osteopathic Medical Society may recommend to the governor three deleted text begin doctors of osteopathy deleted text end new text begin osteopathic physicians new text end qualified to serve on the board. The governor may appoint members to the board from the list of persons recommended or from among other qualified candidates.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.02, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

United States or Canadian medical school graduates.

The board shall issue a license to practice medicine to a person not currently licensed in another state or Canada and who meets the requirements in paragraphs (a) to (i).

(a) An applicant for a license shall file a written application on forms provided by the board, showing to the board's satisfaction that the applicant is of good moral character and satisfies the requirements of this section.

(b) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board of being a graduate of a medical or osteopathic new text begin medical new text end school located in the United States, its territories or Canada, and approved by the board based upon its faculty, curriculum, facilities, accreditation by a recognized national accrediting organization approved by the board, and other relevant data, or is currently enrolled in the final year of study at the school.

(c) The applicant must have passed an examination as described in clause (1) or (2).

(1) The applicant must have passed a comprehensive examination for initial licensure prepared and graded by the National Board of Medical Examiners, the Federation of State Medical Boards, the Medical Council of Canada, the National Board of Osteopathic Examiners, or the appropriate state board that the board determines acceptable. The board shall by rule determine what constitutes a passing score in the examination.

(2) The applicant taking the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) new text begin or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) new text end must have passed steps new text begin or levels new text end one, two, and three. Step new text begin or level new text end three must be passed within five years of passing step new text begin or level new text end two, or before the end of residency training. The applicant must pass each of steps new text begin or levels new text end one, two, and three with passing scores as recommended by the USMLE program new text begin or National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners new text end within three attempts. The applicant taking combinations of Federation of State Medical Boards, National Board of Medical Examiners, and USMLE may be accepted only if the combination is approved by the board as comparable to existing comparable examination sequences and all examinations are completed prior to the year 2000. deleted text begin The deleted text end deleted text begin applicant taking the deleted text end deleted text begin College of Osteopathic Medical Licensure Examination (COMLEX) deleted text end deleted text begin must deleted text end deleted text begin pass all three steps within deleted text end deleted text begin six deleted text end deleted text begin attempts. deleted text end

(d) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board of the completion of one year of graduate, clinical medical training in a program accredited by a national accrediting organization approved by the board or other graduate training approved in advance by the board as meeting standards similar to those of a national accrediting organization.

(e) The applicant may make arrangements with the executive director to appear in person before the board or its designated representative to show that the applicant satisfies the requirements of this section. The board may establish as internal operating procedures the procedures or requirements for the applicant's personal presentation.

(f) The applicant shall pay a fee established by the board by rule. The fee may not be refunded. Upon application or notice of license renewal, the board must provide notice to the applicant and to the person whose license is scheduled to be issued or renewed of any additional fees, surcharges, or other costs which the person is obligated to pay as a condition of licensure. The notice must:

(1) state the dollar amount of the additional costs; and

(2) clearly identify to the applicant the payment schedule of additional costs.

(g) The applicant must not be under license suspension or revocation by the licensing board of the state or jurisdiction in which the conduct that caused the suspension or revocation occurred.

(h) The applicant must not have engaged in conduct warranting disciplinary action against a licensee, or have been subject to disciplinary action other than as specified in paragraph (g). If the applicant does not satisfy the requirements stated in this paragraph, the board may issue a license only on the applicant's showing that the public will be protected through issuance of a license with conditions and limitations the board considers appropriate.

(i) If the examination in paragraph (c) was passed more than ten years ago, the applicant must either:

(1) pass the special purpose examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards with a score of 75 or better within three attempts; or

(2) have a current certification by a specialty board of the American Board of Medical Specialties, of the American Osteopathic Association deleted text begin Bureau of Professional deleted text end deleted text begin Education deleted text end , the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Endorsement; reciprocity.

(a) The board may issue a license to practice medicine to any person who satisfies the requirements in paragraphs (b) to (f).

(b) The applicant shall satisfy all the requirements established in section 147.02, subdivision 1, paragraphs (a), (b), (d), (e), and (f).

(c) The applicant shall:

(1) have passed an examination prepared and graded by the Federation of State Medical Boards, the National Board of Medical Examiners, or the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) program in accordance with section 147.02, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (2); the National Board of Osteopathic new text begin Medical new text end Examiners; or the Medical Council of Canada; and

(2) have a current license from the equivalent licensing agency in another state or Canada and, if the examination in clause (1) was passed more than ten years ago, either:

(i) pass the Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards with a score of 75 or better within three attempts; or

(ii) have a current certification by a specialty board of the American Board of Medical Specialties, of the American Osteopathic Association deleted text begin Bureau of Professional Education deleted text end , the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or of the College of Family Physicians of Canada; or

(3) if the applicant fails to meet the requirement established in section 147.02, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (2), because the applicant failed to pass each of steps one, two, and three of the USMLE within the required three attempts, the applicant may be granted a license provided the applicant:

(i) has passed each of steps one, two, and three with passing scores as recommended by the USMLE program within no more than four attempts for any of the three steps;

(ii) is currently licensed in another state; and

(iii) has current certification by a specialty board of the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Professional Education, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

(d) The applicant shall pay a fee established by the board by rule. The fee may not be refunded.

(e) The applicant must not be under license suspension or revocation by the licensing board of the state or jurisdiction in which the conduct that caused the suspension or revocation occurred.

(f) The applicant must not have engaged in conduct warranting disciplinary action against a licensee, or have been subject to disciplinary action other than as specified in paragraph (e). If an applicant does not satisfy the requirements stated in this paragraph, the board may issue a license only on the applicant's showing that the public will be protected through issuance of a license with conditions or limitations the board considers appropriate.

(g) Upon the request of an applicant, the board may conduct the final interview of the applicant by teleconference.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.037, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Requirements.

The board shall issue a license to practice medicine to any person who satisfies the requirements in paragraphs (a) to (g).

(a) The applicant shall satisfy all the requirements established in section 147.02, subdivision 1, paragraphs (a), (e), (f), (g), and (h).

(b) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is a graduate of a medical or osteopathic school approved by the board as equivalent to accredited United States or Canadian schools based upon its faculty, curriculum, facilities, accreditation, or other relevant data. If the applicant is a graduate of a medical or osteopathic program that is not accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association, the applicant may use the Federation of State Medical Boards' Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) or its successor. If the applicant uses this service as allowed under this paragraph, the physician application fee may be less than $200 but must not exceed the cost of administering this paragraph.

(c) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has been awarded a certificate by the Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates, and the applicant has a working ability in the English language sufficient to communicate with patients and physicians and to engage in the practice of medicine.

(d) The applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board of the completion of two years of graduate, clinical medical training in a program located in the United States, its territories, or Canada and accredited by a national accrediting organization approved by the board. This requirement does not apply:

(1) to an applicant who is admitted as a permanent immigrant to the United States on or before October 1, 1991, as a person of exceptional ability in the sciences according to Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, section 656.22(d);

(2) to an applicant holding a valid license to practice medicine in another country and issued a permanent immigrant visa after October 1, 1991, as a person of extraordinary ability in the field of science or as an outstanding professor or researcher according to Code of Federal Regulations, title 8, section 204.5(h) and (i), or a temporary nonimmigrant visa as a person of extraordinary ability in the field of science according to Code of Federal Regulations, title 8, section 214.2(o),

provided that a person under clause (1) or (2) is admitted pursuant to rules of the United States Department of Labor; or

(3) to an applicant who is licensed in another state, has practiced five years without disciplinary action in the United States, its territories, or Canada, has completed one year of the graduate, clinical medical training required by this paragraph, and has passed the Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards within three attempts in the 24 months before licensing.

(e) The applicant must:

(1) have passed an examination prepared and graded by the Federation of State Medical Boards, the United States Medical Licensing Examination program in accordance with section 147.02, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (2), or the Medical Council of Canada; and

(2) have a current license from the equivalent licensing agency in another state or country and, if the examination in clause (1) was passed more than ten years ago, either:

(i) pass the Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards with a score of 75 or better within three attempts; or

(ii) have a current certification by a specialty board of the American Board of Medical Specialties, of the American Osteopathic Association deleted text begin Bureau of Professional Education deleted text end , of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or of the College of Family Physicians of Canada; or

(3) if the applicant fails to meet the requirement established in section 147.02, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (2), because the applicant failed to pass each of steps one, two, and three of the USMLE within the required three attempts, the applicant may be granted a license provided the applicant:

(i) has passed each of steps one, two, and three with passing scores as recommended by the USMLE program within no more than four attempts for any of the three steps;

(ii) is currently licensed in another state; and

(iii) has current certification by a specialty board of the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Osteopathic Association deleted text begin Bureau of Professional Education deleted text end , the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

(f) The applicant must not be under license suspension or revocation by the licensing board of the state or jurisdiction in which the conduct that caused the suspension or revocation occurred.

(g) The applicant must not have engaged in conduct warranting disciplinary action against a licensee, or have been subject to disciplinary action other than as specified in paragraph (f). If an applicant does not satisfy the requirements stated in this paragraph, the board may issue a license only on the applicant's showing that the public will be protected through issuance of a license with conditions or limitations the board considers appropriate.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 147.091, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Grounds listed.

The board may refuse to grant a license, may refuse to grant registration to perform interstate telemedicine services, or may impose disciplinary action as described in section 147.141 against any physician. The following conduct is prohibited and is grounds for disciplinary action:

(a) Failure to demonstrate the qualifications or satisfy the requirements for a license contained in this chapter or rules of the board. The burden of proof shall be upon the applicant to demonstrate such qualifications or satisfaction of such requirements.

(b) Obtaining a license by fraud or cheating, or attempting to subvert the licensing examination process. Conduct which subverts or attempts to subvert the licensing examination process includes, but is not limited to: (1) conduct which violates the security of the examination materials, such as removing examination materials from the examination room or having unauthorized possession of any portion of a future, current, or previously administered licensing examination; (2) conduct which violates the standard of test administration, such as communicating with another examinee during administration of the examination, copying another examinee's answers, permitting another examinee to copy one's answers, or possessing unauthorized materials; or (3) impersonating an examinee or permitting an impersonator to take the examination on one's own behalf.

(c) Conviction, during the previous five years, of a felony reasonably related to the practice of medicine or osteopathy. Conviction as used in this subdivision shall include a conviction of an offense which if committed in this state would be deemed a felony without regard to its designation elsewhere, or a criminal proceeding where a finding or verdict of guilt is made or returned but the adjudication of guilt is either withheld or not entered thereon.

(d) Revocation, suspension, restriction, limitation, or other disciplinary action against the person's medical license in another state or jurisdiction, failure to report to the board that charges regarding the person's license have been brought in another state or jurisdiction, or having been refused a license by any other state or jurisdiction.

(e) Advertising which is false or misleading, which violates any rule of the board, or which claims without substantiation the positive cure of any disease, or professional superiority to or greater skill than that possessed by another physician.

(f) Violating a rule promulgated by the board or an order of the board, a state, or federal law which relates to the practice of medicine, or in part regulates the practice of medicine including without limitation sections 604.201, 609.344, and 609.345, or a state or federal narcotics or controlled substance law.

(g) Engaging in any unethical conduct; conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public, or demonstrating a willful or careless disregard for the health, welfare or safety of a patient; or medical practice which is professionally incompetent, in that it may create unnecessary danger to any patient's life, health, or safety, in any of which cases, proof of actual injury need not be established.

(h) Failure to supervise a physician assistant or failure to supervise a physician under any agreement with the board.

(i) Aiding or abetting an unlicensed person in the practice of medicine, except that it is not a violation of this paragraph for a physician to employ, supervise, or delegate functions to a qualified person who may or may not be required to obtain a license or registration to provide health services if that person is practicing within the scope of that person's license or registration or delegated authority.

(j) Adjudication as mentally incompetent, mentally ill or developmentally disabled, or as a chemically dependent person, a person dangerous to the public, a sexually dangerous person, or a person who has a sexual psychopathic personality by a court of competent jurisdiction, within or without this state. Such adjudication shall automatically suspend a license for the duration thereof unless the board orders otherwise.

(k) Engaging in unprofessional conduct. Unprofessional conduct shall include any departure from or the failure to conform to the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice in which proceeding actual injury to a patient need not be established.

(l) Inability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, drunkenness, use of drugs, narcotics, chemicals or any other type of material or as a result of any mental or physical condition, including deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skills.

(m) Revealing a privileged communication from or relating to a patient except when otherwise required or permitted by law.

(n) Failure by a doctor of deleted text begin osteopathy deleted text end new text begin osteopathic medicine new text end to identify the school of healing in the professional use of the doctor's name by one of the following terms: osteopathic physician and surgeon, doctor of osteopathy, or D.O.

(o) Improper management of medical records, including failure to maintain adequate medical records, to comply with a patient's request made pursuant to sections 144.291 to 144.298 or to furnish a medical record or report required by law.

(p) Fee splitting, including without limitation:

(1) paying, offering to pay, receiving, or agreeing to receive, a commission, rebate, or remuneration, directly or indirectly, primarily for the referral of patients or the prescription of drugs or devices;

(2) dividing fees with another physician or a professional corporation, unless the division is in proportion to the services provided and the responsibility assumed by each professional and the physician has disclosed the terms of the division;

(3) referring a patient to any health care provider as defined in sections 144.291 to 144.298 in which the referring physician has a "financial or economic interest," as defined in section 144.6521, subdivision 3, unless the physician has disclosed the physician's financial or economic interest in accordance with section 144.6521; and

(4) dispensing for profit any drug or device, unless the physician has disclosed the physician's own profit interest.

The physician must make the disclosures required in this clause in advance and in writing to the patient and must include in the disclosure a statement that the patient is free to choose a different health care provider. This clause does not apply to the distribution of revenues from a partnership, group practice, nonprofit corporation, or professional corporation to its partners, shareholders, members, or employees if the revenues consist only of fees for services performed by the physician or under a physician's direct supervision, or to the division or distribution of prepaid or capitated health care premiums, or fee-for-service withhold amounts paid under contracts established under other state law.

(q) Engaging in abusive or fraudulent billing practices, including violations of the federal Medicare and Medicaid laws or state medical assistance laws.

(r) Becoming addicted or habituated to a drug or intoxicant.

(s) Prescribing a drug or device for other than medically accepted therapeutic or experimental or investigative purposes authorized by a state or federal agency or referring a patient to any health care provider as defined in sections 144.291 to 144.298 for services or tests not medically indicated at the time of referral.

(t) Engaging in conduct with a patient which is sexual or may reasonably be interpreted by the patient as sexual, or in any verbal behavior which is seductive or sexually demeaning to a patient.

(u) Failure to make reports as required by section 147.111 or to cooperate with an investigation of the board as required by section 147.131.

(v) Knowingly providing false or misleading information that is directly related to the care of that patient unless done for an accepted therapeutic purpose such as the administration of a placebo.

(w) Aiding suicide or aiding attempted suicide in violation of section 609.215 as established by any of the following:

(1) a copy of the record of criminal conviction or plea of guilty for a felony in violation of section 609.215, subdivision 1 or 2;

(2) a copy of the record of a judgment of contempt of court for violating an injunction issued under section 609.215, subdivision 4;

(3) a copy of the record of a judgment assessing damages under section 609.215, subdivision 5; or

(4) a finding by the board that the person violated section 609.215, subdivision 1 or 2. The board shall investigate any complaint of a violation of section 609.215, subdivision 1 or 2.

(x) Practice of a board-regulated profession under lapsed or nonrenewed credentials.

(y) Failure to repay a state or federally secured student loan in accordance with the provisions of the loan.

(z) Providing interstate telemedicine services other than according to section 147.032.

Sec. 7.

new text begin REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION. new text end

new text begin The revisor of statutes shall change the terms "osteopath" to "osteopathic physician" and "osteopathy" to "osteopathic medicine" whenever they appear in Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules. The revisor of statutes shall also make grammatical changes related to these changes. new text end

Presented to the governor May 17, 2016

Signed by the governor May 19, 2016, 10:54 a.m.