HB 1160

ENROLLED
 2026 Regular Session
  ACT No. 879
 HOUSE BILL NO. 1160
 BY REPRESENTATIVE ECHOLS
1AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 37:1275.3, relative to the practice of medicine; to provide for licensure of
3certain international physicians; to provide for a restricted rural physician license;
4to provide for eligibility requirements; to provide for practice limitations and
5supervision; to provide for conversion to an unrestricted license; to provide for rules;
6and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8Section 1. R.S. 37:1275.3 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9§1275.3. Rural international physician; licensure; limitations
10A. The board shall issue a restricted rural physician license to an applicant
11who meets all of the following requirements:
12(1) Holds a medical degree from a medical school listed in the World
13Directory of Medical Schools.
14(2) Has completed medical education substantially equivalent to a doctor of
15medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine.
16(3) Has successfully passed Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 of the United States
17Medical Licensing Examination or an equivalent examination as determined and
18approved by the board.
19(4) Possesses certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign
20Medical Graduates or equivalent credential verification approved by the board.
21(5) Has completed at least three years of clinical practice, postgraduate
22training, or residency in another jurisdiction.
23(6) Has successfully passed a criminal background check.
24(7) Demonstrates proficiency in the English language sufficient to safely
25practice medicine.
  Page 1 of 3
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
 HB NO. 1160  ENROLLED
1B.(1)(a) A physician issued a restricted rural physician license in accordance
2with this Section shall practice only in a rural or medically underserved area of this
3state or at a medical facility or clinic approved by the Louisiana Department of
4Health or the board.
5(b) For the purposes of this Section, "rural or medically underserved area"
6means either of the following:
7(i) A parish or geographic area designated by the Louisiana Department of
8Health or the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a health
9professional shortage area or a medically underserved area.
10(ii) A rural parish with a population of less than one hundred thousand
11residents based upon the latest federal decennial census.
12(2) A physician issued a restricted rural physician license shall practice for
13a period of not less than two years under the supervision of a physician who meets
14all of the following criteria:
15(a) He holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in this state.
16(b) He meets all requirements established by the board to serve as a
17supervising physician.
18(c) He is registered with the board as a supervising physician in accordance
19with rules promulgated and adopted by the board.
20(3) Upon successful completion of the supervision period, as documented by
21the supervising physician, the board may authorize the physician to continue practice
22without supervision within a rural or medically underserved area.
23C.(1) A restricted rural physician license shall not any authorize any of the
24following:
25(a) Practice of medicine outside a rural or medically underserved area
26approved in accordance with this Section.
27(b) Ownership of a medical practice during the period of restricted licensure
28unless approved by the board.
29(2) A violation of the practice location requirements of this Section shall
30result in suspension or revocation of the license by the board.
  Page 2 of 3
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
 HB NO. 1160  ENROLLED
1D. After five years of continuous practice in a rural or medically underserved
2area in accordance with this Section, the board shall grant the physician eligibility
3to apply for a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in this state, if the
4physician meets all of the following criteria:
5(1) Remains in good standing.
6(2) Is not under investigation by the board at the time of application.
7(3) Has not been subject to disciplinary action.
8(4) Has satisfied all continuing medical education requirements.
9E. The board shall promulgate and adopt rules to implement the provisions
10of this Section, including but not limited to rules governing all of the following:
11(1) Application procedures.
12(2) Supervision requirements.
13(3) Credential verification standards.
14(4) Evaluation of international medical education equivalency.
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
  GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
 APPROVED:
  Page 3 of 3
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.