Bill > SB354

This bill enacts the Interstate Podiatric Medical Licensure Compact, which is an agreement between states to create a streamlined process for podiatric physicians (doctors specializing in foot and ankle care) to become licensed in multiple states, thereby improving healthcare access and patient safety. The Compact establishes an Interstate Commission to oversee its administration and sets forth definitions for terms like "expedited license" (a license granted through the Compact process) and "member state" (a state that has adopted the Compact). It outlines eligibility requirements for podiatric physicians seeking an expedited license, including specific educational and examination standards, and defines how a "state of principal license" is determined, usually based on where the physician resides or practices most. The bill details the application and issuance process for expedited licenses, including background checks and the role of member boards in verifying qualifications. It also addresses renewal of licenses, coordinated information systems for tracking licensed podiatric physicians, joint investigations, and disciplinary actions, ensuring that actions taken in one member state can have consequences in others. The Compact creates an Interstate Podiatric Medical Licensure Compact Commission, composed of representatives from each member state, to manage the Compact's operations, promulgate rules, and enforce its provisions. The bill also covers the financial aspects of the Compact, including how member states will be assessed to fund the Commission's activities, and outlines procedures for dispute resolution, amendment, withdrawal, and dissolution of the Compact. Importantly, the Compact is designed to supplement, not replace, existing state laws governing the practice of podiatric medicine.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb354