Bill > SB489

This bill establishes a pathway for physicians trained in foreign countries to obtain a limited license to practice medicine in Maryland, exempting them from certain standard educational requirements if they meet specific criteria. To be eligible, an applicant must have graduated from an international medical school, be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or its successor, pass a qualifying exam, and have completed at least two years of postgraduate training in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-International (ACGME-I) or another board-approved accrediting organization. The bill also introduces the concept of a "fifth pathway program" for U.S. citizens who studied medicine abroad and completed most but not all graduation requirements. Importantly, physicians granted this limited license, which cannot exceed three years and is not renewable, can only practice medicine within a specific healthcare facility, such as a hospital or health department, and must be employed by that facility. The bill also requires the State Board of Physicians to consult with MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society, on the development of policies and regulations to implement these changes, and the act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.