DAR File No. 38649

Commerce, Occupational and Professional Licensing

Rule R156-67

Utah Medical Practice Act Rule

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 38649
Filed: 06/24/2014 08:43:22 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The Division and the Physicians Licensing Board and Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon's Licensing Board reviewed the rule and determined amendments needed to be made to reflect current standards.

Summary of the rule or change:

Subsection R156-67-302d(i) is added to require a candidate who has failed exams three times to provide a narrative to the Division and Board as part of the application process. The narrative will assist in determining qualifications for licensure. In Section R156-67-302e, amendments delete the requirement for a candidate who fails specific exams three times to complete additional education before being able to sit for the final exam. The reason for the change is that, starting in August 2014, the Division will not be responsible for testing approvals and management of testing issues. Instead, the Federation of State Medical Boards will approve and manage all testing issues for all member states. Sections R156-67-502 and R156-67-602 are updated to reflect the current edition (2012-2013) of the American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Ethics.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 58-1-106(1)
• Section 58-67-101
• Subsection 58-1-202(1)

This rule or change incorporates by reference the following material:

• Updates Code of Medical Ethics, published by American Medical Association (AMA), 2012-2013

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The Division will incur minimal costs of approximately $50 to print and distribute the rule once the proposed amendments are made effective. Any costs incurred will be absorbed in the Division's current budget. It should also be noted that an AMA Code of Ethics book costs approximately $60 to purchase on the American Medical Association website.

local governments:

The proposed amendments only apply to licensed physicians/surgeons and applicants for licensure in that classification. As a result, the proposed amendments do not apply to local governments.

small businesses:

The proposed amendments only apply to licensed physicians/surgeons and applicants for licensure in that classification. Licensees and applicants for licensure may work in a small business; however, the proposed amendments would not directly affect the business.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

The proposed amendments only apply to licensed physicians/surgeons and applicants for licensure in that classification. If an individual wishes to purchase an updated copy of the AMA Code of Ethics book, it costs approximately $60 to purchase on the American Medical Association website.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

The proposed amendments only apply to licensed physicians/surgeons and applicants for licensure in that classification. If an individual wishes to purchase an updated copy of the AMA Code of Ethics book, it costs approximately $60 to purchase on the American Medical Association website.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

This rule filing modifies the licensing process for an individual who fails a licensing exam multiple times. In addition, it updates professional conduct standards that are promulgated within the industry and incorporated by reference. These amendments affect individuals who license and practice within the medical profession. Therefore, they are not anticipated to have any fiscal impact on businesses.

Francine A. Giani, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Commerce
Occupational and Professional Licensing
HEBER M WELLS BLDG
160 E 300 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-2316

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• April Ellis at the above address, by phone at 801-530-6254, by FAX at 801-530-6511, or by Internet E-mail at [email protected]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

08/14/2014

This rule may become effective on:

08/21/2014

Authorized by:

Mark Steinagel, Director

R156. Commerce, Occupational and Professional Licensing.

R156-67. Utah Medical Practice Act Rule.

R156-67-302d. Qualifications for Licensure - Examination Requirements.

(1) In accordance with Subsection 58-67-302(1)(g), the required licensing examination sequence is the following:

(a) the FLEX components I and II on which the applicant shall have achieved a score of not less than 75 on each component part;

(b) the NBME examination parts I, II, and III on which the applicant shall achieve a passing score of not less than 75 on each part;

(c) the USMLE, steps 1, 2 and 3 on which the applicant shall achieve a score of not less than 75 on each step;

(d) the LMCC examination, Parts 1 and 2;

(e) the NBME part I or the USMLE step 1 and the NBME part II or the USMLE step 2 and the NBME part III or the USMLE step 3;

(f) the FLEX component 1 and the USMLE step 3; or

(g) the NBME part I or the USMLE step 1 and the NBME part II or the USMLE step 2 and the FLEX component 2.

(h) In accordance with Subsection 58-67-302.5(1)(g), all applicants who are foreign medical graduates shall pass the FMGEMS unless they pass the USMLE steps 1 and 2.

(i) Candidates who fail any combination of the USMLE, FLEX and NBME three times must provide a narrative regarding the failure and may be requested to meet with the Board and Division.

(2) In accordance with Subsections 58-67-302(1)(g) and (2)(e), an applicant may be required to take the SPEX examination if the applicant:

(a) has not practiced in the past five years;

(b) has had disciplinary action within the past five years; or

(c) has had a substance abuse disorder or physical or mental impairment within the past five years which may affect the applicant's ability to safely practice.

(3) In accordance with Subsection (2) above, the passing score on the SPEX examination is 75.

 

R156-67-302e. Qualifications for Licensure - Requirements for Admission to the Examinations.

(1) Admission to the USMLE steps 1 and 2 shall be in accordance with policies and procedures of the FSMB and the NBME.

(2) Requirements for admission to the USMLE step 3 are:

(a) completion of the education requirements as set forth in Subsections 58-67-302(1)(d) and (e);

(b) passing scores on USMLE steps 1 and 2, or the FLEX component 1, or the NBME parts I and II;

(c) have passed the first USMLE step taken, either 1 or 2, within seven years if enrolled in a medical doctorate program and ten years if enrolled in a medical doctorate/doctorate of philosophy program; and

(d) have not failed a combination of USMLE step 3, FLEX component 2 and NBME part III, three times.[

(3) Candidates who fail a combination of USMLE step 3, FLEX component 2 and NBME part III three times must successfully complete additional education as required by the board before being allowed to sit for USMLE step 3.]

 

R156-67-502. Unprofessional Conduct.

"Unprofessional conduct" includes:

(1) prescribing for oneself any Schedule II or III controlled substance; however, nothing in this rule shall be interpreted by the division or the board to prevent a licensee from using, possessing or administering to himself a Schedule II or III controlled substance which was legally prescribed for him by a licensed practitioner acting within his scope of licensure when it is used in accordance with the prescription order and for the use for which it was intended;

(2) knowingly prescribing, selling, giving away or administering, directly or indirectly, or offering to prescribe, sell, furnish, give away or administer any scheduled controlled substance as defined in Title 58, Chapter 37 to a drug dependent person, as defined in Subsection 58-37-2(s) unless permitted by law and when it is prescribed, dispensed or administered according to a proper medical diagnosis and for a condition indicating the use of that controlled substance is appropriate;

(3) knowingly engaging in billing practices which are abusive and represent charges which are grossly excessive for services rendered;

(4) directly or indirectly giving or receiving any fee, commission, rebate or other compensation for professional services not actually and personally rendered or supervised; however, nothing in this section shall preclude the legal relationships within lawful professional partnerships, corporations or associations or the relationship between an approved supervising physician and physician assistants or advanced practice nurses supervised by them;

(5) knowingly failing to transfer a copy of pertinent and necessary medical records or a summary thereof to another physician when requested to do so by the subject patient or by his legally designated representative;

(6) failing to furnish to the board information requested by the board which is known by a licensee with respect to the quality and adequacy of medical care rendered to patients by physicians licensed under the Medical Practice Act;

(7) failing as an operating surgeon to perform adequate pre-operative and primary post-operative care of the surgical condition for a patient in accordance with the standards and ethics of the profession or to arrange for competent primary post-operative care of the surgical condition by a licensed physician and surgeon who is equally qualified to provide that care;

(8) billing a global fee for a procedure without providing the requisite care;

(9) supervising the providing of breast screening by diagnostic mammography services or interpreting the results of breast screening by diagnostic mammography to or for the benefit of any patient without having current certification or current eligibility for certification by the American Board of Radiology. However, nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted to prevent a licensed physician and surgeon from reviewing the results of any breast screening by diagnostic mammography procedure upon a patient for the purpose of considering those results in determining appropriate care and treatment of that patient if the results are interpreted by a physician and surgeon qualified under this subsection and a timely written report is prepared by the interpreting physician and surgeon in accordance with the standards and ethics of the profession;

(10) failing of a licensee under Title 58, Chapter 67, without just cause to repay as agreed any loan or other repayment obligation legally incurred by the licensee to fund the licensee's education or training as a medical doctor;

(11) failing of a licensee under Title 58, Chapter 67, without just cause to comply with the terms of any written agreement in which the licensee's education or training as a medical doctor is funded in consideration for the licensee's agreement to practice in a certain locality or type of locality or to comply with other conditions of practice following licensure;

(12) a physician providing services to a department of health by participating in a system under which the physician provides the department with completed and signed prescriptions without the name and address of the patient, or date the prescription is provided to the patient when the prescription form is to be completed by authorized registered nurses employed by the department of health which services are not in accordance with the provisions of Section 58-17a-620;

(13) failing to keep the division informed of a current address and telephone number;

(14) engaging in alternate medical practice except as provided in Section R156-67-603; and

(15) violation of any provision of the American Medical Association (AMA) "Code of Medical Ethics", [2008-2009]2012-2013 edition, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

R156-67-602. Medical Records.

In accordance with Subsection 58-67-803(1), medical records shall be maintained to be consistent with the following:

(1) all applicable laws, regulations, and rules; and

(2) the "AMA Code of Medical Ethics", [2008-2009]2012-2013 edition, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

KEY: physicians, licensing

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [January 7, ]2014

Notice of Continuation: March 14, 2011

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 58-67-101; 58-1-106(1); 58-1-202(1)