A new Alabama law designed to increase the number of doctors practicing in the state goes into effect next Tuesday.
An increasing number of rural counties do not have a primary care physician, and many rural hospitals are operating without an obstetrician, orthopedist, or cardiologist. Many more counties are one or two retirements away from a healthcare crisis.
Alabama needs more physicians just to meet current healthcare demands, according to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. This shortage of doctors strains the healthcare system and means patients can experience delays in getting medical care.
The Physician Workforce Act was approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey in May.
This new law will:
- Make it easier for physicians moving from other states to begin practicing medicine in Alabama sooner by eliminating an additional test designed to test current knowledge known as the SPEX (Special Purpose Exam).
- Accelerate licensure for International Medical Graduates by allowing them to apply for a medical license a year earlier during their training.
- Create an apprenticeship-like program for medical school graduates who were not matched into a residency program so they train under the supervision of a fully licensed Alabama physician while they reapply for residency.
Dr. George Koulianos, a Mobile doctor, serves as President of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama.
“The Physician Workforce Act will expand the pool of trained physicians practicing in our state, improve patient access to timely care, and put Alabama on the path toward a healthier future,” said Dr. Koulianos.
Starting August 1:
- The current requirements for SPEX testing will be eliminated for out-of-state physicians wanting to practice medicine in Alabama.
- International Medical Graduates, who make up 20 percent of Alabama’s current physician workforce, will be eligible to take the final exam in the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination process after two years of residency training.
- The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners will begin crafting rules to govern the apprenticeship-like program.
For more information on the Physician Workforce Act, visit alabamamedicine.org.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
