Bill > HB3298

This bill, titled the "Missouri State-Sponsored Residency Pathway Act," modifies requirements for physician licensure by allowing applicants to complete either a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or a state-accredited residency program approved by the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts (the "board"). The bill defines key terms such as "demonstrated workforce shortage," which refers to a documented lack of physicians in a specific specialty, and "state-accredited residency program," meaning a program approved by the board under these new provisions. The board is tasked with establishing a process for approving these state-accredited programs, which can be sponsored by healthcare providers like hospitals or clinics, and the approval will be based on statutory standards rather than requiring national accreditation. During a "pilot period" before January 1, 2030, the board may limit the number or types of state-accredited programs it approves, potentially based on specialty or geographic need to improve access to care. State-accredited programs must meet minimum requirements, including sufficient training duration to ensure clinical competency, supervision by licensed physicians, adequate patient volume and diversity of experience, and established procedures for resident evaluation and conduct, all while complying with state laws on patient safety and professional conduct. Importantly, the bill clarifies that completion of a state-accredited residency program will not be a basis for denying a physician a permanent license, varying licensure requirements, or denying staff privileges at healthcare facilities, and it does not guarantee federal funding or acceptance by other states. The board will report to the General Assembly every ten years on the outcomes and workforce participation of graduates from state-accredited programs.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3298&year=2026&code=R