NY State Senate Bill 2025-S7840

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 09, 2025	referred to higher education

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A7319
Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §6525-a, Ed L

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes an internationally trained physician licensure pathway program to allow qualified, foreign-trained physicians to contribute to the healthcare system through supervised practice in designated shortage areas, ultimately leading to full licensure.

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7840

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing an inter-
nationally trained physician licensure pathway program

 
PURPOSE:

To address the physician shortage in New York State by creating a struc-
tured pathway to licensure for internationally trained physicians,
allowing them to practice under supervision in shortage areas and ulti-
mately obtain full licensure.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 establishes legislative intent, recognizing the physician
shortage and the need to integrate internationally trained physicians
into the healthcare system.

Section 2 adds § 6525-a to the Education Law, which:

* Defines "internationally trained physician" as a doctor licensed in
another country meeting State Board for Medicine standards.

* Defines "participating healthcare facility" as a federally qualified
health center, community health center, hospital, or facility in a
designated physician shortage area.

* Establishes a three-stage licensure pathway:

1. Limited Permit (2 years): Physicians work under supervision in
participating facilities.

2. Restricted License (2 years): Physicians gain independent practice
rights in primary care, psychiatry, or approved specialties within shor-
tage areas.

3. Full Licensure: Physicians who successfully complete the program
become eligible for full medical licensure in New York.

* Requires the State Board for Medicine to set regulations on program
standards, supervision, and evaluation criteria. *Mandates an annual
report on program participation, specialties, and geographic service
areas.

Section 3 establishes the act's effective date as 180 days after enact-
ment, with rulemaking authorized immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State faces a severe physician shortage, particularly in prima-
ry care, psychiatry, and underserved rural communities. This shortage
limits access to care, increases wait times, and exacerbates health
disparities, especially for low-income and immigrant populations.

At the same time, New York is home to thousands of Internationally
trained doctors who possess the necessary medical knowledge and experi-
ence but are unable to practice due to outdated and restrictive licens-
ing requirements. These skilled professionals often end up in non-clini-
cal roles-such as home health aides or medical assistants-or leave the
healthcare field altogether. This phenomenon, known as "brain waste,"
represents a missed opportunity to strengthen New York's healthcare
workforce.

This bill establishes a structured, supervised pathway that allows
foreign-trained doctors to contribute to the healthcare system while
ensuring patient safety through:

* Supervised practice in approved healthcare facilities.

* Service requirements that direct doctors to work in shortage areas
where they are most needed.

* A transition to full licensure, ensuring these professionals can fully
integrate into the workforce.

Several other states, including California, Minnesota, and Missouri,
have implemented similar programs to successfully integrate interna-
tionally trained physicians into their healthcare systems. New York must
modernize its licensing process to meet healthcare demands and maximize
the talents of its immigrant workforce.

Without this reform, physician shortages will continue to grow, partic-
ularly in rural areas, putting further strain on the existing healthcare
system. This bill presents a common-sense solution that expands access
to care, strengthens the medical workforce, and ensures that qualified
foreign-trained doctors can fully contribute to the well-being of New
Yorkers.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal administrative costs anticipated for program oversight and
reporting.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 180 days after becoming law, with rulemaking
authorized immediately.

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7840
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                May 9, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. JACKSON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing an inter-
   nationally trained physician licensure pathway program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Legislative  intent.  The legislature finds that New York
 state is experiencing a critical shortage of physicians, particularly in
 primary care and in underserved and  rural  communities.  This  shortage
 limits  access  to  essential  healthcare  services,  exacerbates health
 disparities, and places an increasing burden on the existing  healthcare
 workforce.  At  the same time, New York is home to thousands of interna-
 tionally trained physicians who possess the education, skills, and expe-
 rience  necessary  to  provide  high-quality  medical   care.   However,
 outdated,  and  restrictive  licensing  requirements often prevent these
 highly qualified professionals from practicing  medicine,  resulting  in
 significant "brain waste" where capable medical professionals are under-
 employed  or  forced to leave the healthcare field altogether. It is the
 intent of this legislature to address both the  physician  shortage  and
 the underutilization of internationally trained medical professionals by
 establishing  a  streamlined  pathway to licensure. This initiative will
 allow qualified, foreign-trained physicians to contribute to the health-
 care system through supervised practice in  designated  shortage  areas,
 ultimately  leading to full licensure. By enacting this legislation, New
 York will expand access to healthcare, strengthen the medical workforce,
 and ensure that skilled immigrant professionals can fully contribute  to
 the well-being of our communities.
   §  2.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 6525-a to
 read as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09564-01-5
 S. 7840                             2

   § 6525-A. INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIAN LICENSURE PATHWAY PROGRAM.
 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING
 MEANINGS:
   (A)  "INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIAN" SHALL MEAN A PHYSICIAN WHO IS
 LICENSED TO PRACTICE  MEDICINE  IN  ANOTHER  COUNTRY  MEETING  STANDARDS
 SATISFACTORY  TO THE STATE BOARD FOR MEDICINE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
 COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS.
   (B) "PARTICIPATING  HEALTHCARE  FACILITY"  MEANS  FEDERALLY  QUALIFIED
 HEALTH  CENTERS,  COMMUNITY  HEALTH CENTERS, AND HOSPITALS OR HEALTHCARE
 FACILITIES LOCATED IN PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE AREAS, AS APPROVED BY THE STATE
 BOARD FOR MEDICINE.
   2. PERMITS LIMITED AS TO ELIGIBILITY, PRACTICE AND DURATION, SHALL  BE
 ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, AS FOLLOWS:
   (A)  AN  INTERNATIONALLY  TRAINED  PHYSICIAN  SHALL  BE ELIGIBLE FOR A
 LIMITED PERMIT PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION.
   (B) A PERMITTEE SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE  MEDICINE  ONLY  UNDER
 THE  SUPERVISION  OF  A  LICENSED  PHYSICIAN AND ONLY IN A PARTICIPATING
 HEALTHCARE FACILITY.
   (C) A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE VALID FOR TWO YEARS,  DURING  WHICH  THE
 PERFORMANCE OF THE PERMITTEE IS MENTORED, ASSESSED, AND EVALUATED BY THE
 SUPERVISING LICENSED PHYSICIAN.
   3. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE SUPERVISED PRACTICE PERIOD PURSU-
 ANT  TO  PARAGRAPH  (C)  OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, AN INTERNA-
 TIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIAN SHALL BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT A TWO-YEAR
 RESTRICTED  LICENSE  ALLOWING  INDEPENDENT  PRACTICE  IN  PRIMARY  CARE,
 PSYCHIATRY,  OR  OTHER SPECIALTIES APPROVED BY THE STATE BOARD FOR MEDI-
 CINE, WITHIN PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE AREAS AS DESIGNATED BY THE  STATE  BOARD
 FOR MEDICINE.
   4.  FOLLOWING  TWO YEARS OF PRACTICE WITH A RESTRICTED LICENSE GRANTED
 PURSUANT TO  SUBDIVISION  THREE  OF  THIS  SECTION,  AN  INTERNATIONALLY
 TRAINED  PHYSICIAN  SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO BE LICENSED PURSUANT TO SECTION
 SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR  OF  THIS  ARTICLE,  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY
 PROVISION OF LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY.
   5.  THE STATE BOARD FOR MEDICINE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT,
 AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SHALL PROMULGATE ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS
 NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION, WHICH SHALL AT A MINI-
 MUM INCLUDE:
   (A) PROGRAM  STANDARDS  FOR  PARTICIPATING  HEALTHCARE  FACILITIES  TO
 MENTOR,  ASSESS, AND EVALUATE INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIANS WORKING
 UNDER LIMITED  PERMITS  ISSUED  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF  THIS
 SECTION;
   (B)  REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING HEALTHCARE FACILITIES TO ESTABLISH
 FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT  RELATIONSHIPS  WITH  THE  INTERNATIONALLY  TRAINED
 PHYSICIANS  WORKING UNDER LIMITED PERMITS ISSUED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
 TWO OF THIS SECTION;
   (C) REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING  HEALTHCARE  FACILITIES  TO  SUBMIT
 EVIDENCE  OF  AN  INTERNATIONALLY  TRAINED  PHYSICIAN'S  ELIGIBILITY AND
 COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS  NECESSARY  FOR  THE  DEPARTMENT  TO  GRANT  A
 RESTRICTED LICENSE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION; AND
   (D) REGULATIONS AND GUIDANCE TO IMPLEMENT THE LICENSURE PATHWAY ESTAB-
 LISHED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION, ENSURING CLARITY IN THE APPLICATION
 PROCESS, SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS, AND CRITERIA FOR PROGRESSION TO  FULL
 LICENSURE.
   6.  THE  STATE  BOARD  FOR  MEDICINE SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT ANNUALLY ON
 JANUARY FIFTH TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE ON THE STATUS  OF  THE
 LICENSURE  PATHWAY  ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, INCLUDING BUT
 S. 7840                             3
 
 NOT LIMITED TO, THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PHYSICIANS WHO ARE
 PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN THIS SECTION, THEIR SPECIAL-
 TY AND THE REGION THEY ARE SERVING.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
 completed on or before such effective date.

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Senate Bill S7840

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S7840

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Sponsored By

Robert Jackson

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7840 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments