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Bill to Ensure Licensure Parity for International Medical Grads Wins Approval in Pa. House

Last Updated: Mar 15, 2021

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A bill to level the playing field for international medical graduates (IMGs) relative to medical licensure unanimously passed the Pa. House of Representatives on March 23, 2021 by a vote of 201-0.

House Bill 245, introduced by Rep. Aaron Kaufer, is now awaiting consideration by the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. Urge Your State Senator to support this bill.

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IMGs in Pennsylvania – that is, physicians who graduated from a medical school outside of the U.S. and Canada – are required to complete three years of Graduate Medical Education (GME) training in a residency program to be eligible for full licensure. By contrast, U.S. and Canadian medical graduates must complete two years of residency to become fully licensed.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) believes that the current requirements for IMG physicians create unnecessary delays for qualified physicians who wish to begin treating patients. IMG physicians are held to the same demanding educational standards as students attending medical schools in the U.S. and Canada, and the training requirements for licensure should reflect that.

PAMED supports HB 245. We will be closely monitoring the bill’s progress in the Senate and will share any updates with members.

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David Damsker | Sep 27, 2019

I didn't realize this was a problem. All IMGs may or may not have equivalent training. But I'd really like you to help with prior auths first.
William Rowe | Sep 26, 2019

"IMG physicians are held to the same demanding educational standards as students attending medical schools in the U.S. and Canada, and the training requirements for licensure should reflect that."

I assume there are data to support this statement? If so, it is ABSOLUTELY necessary to present that data to the membership to garner its support. I will grant that the statement is likely true for many source countries, but I suspect not all, and at present to my knowledge there is no ability of US based accreditation agencies to verify this.

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