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26LSO-0373
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0373
Numbered
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0129
Expanding Physician Access Act.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Wasserburger, Clouston, Geringer and Ottman and Senator(s) Love
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to physicians and surgeons; authorizing the board of medicine to provide provisional medical licenses to internationally trained physicians as specified; providing definitions; making conforming amendments; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
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W.S. 33
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801 through 33
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805 are created to read:
ARTICLE 8
EXPANDING PHYSICIAN ACCESS ACT
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801.
Short title.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Expanding Physician Access Act."
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802.
Definitions.
(a)
As used in this article:
(i)
"Board" means the Wyoming board of medicine;
(ii)
"Health care provider" means a facility that furnishes, bills or is paid for health care procedures or service delivery in the normal course of business and includes but is not limited to health systems, hospitals, hospital
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based facilities, freestanding emergency facilities, medical clinics and urgent care clinics;
(iii)
"Internationally trained physician" means a person who:
(A)
Has been granted a medical doctorate or substantially similar degree by a domestic or international medical program of good standing as determined and approved by the board;
(B)
Has been licensed in good standing with a medical licensing or regulatory institution of the person's licensing country at all times in the preceding five (5) years and does not have any pending investigations or discipline before the licensing body;
(C)
Has completed a residency or substantially similar post
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graduate medical training program or has practiced as a medical professional performing the duties of a physician in the person's licensing country for not less than seven (7) continuous years after the completion of a medical doctorate;
(D)
If the person has completed a residency, has provided written verification that the person practiced medicine as a fully licensed physician in the person's licensing country for not less than five (5) years after the completion of residency training, or if the person did not complete a residency training, that the person has practiced medicine as a fully licensed physician in the person's licensing country for not less than twelve (12) years after completion of a medical doctorate or a residency equivalent pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph;
(E)
Possesses fluency in the English language in the context of the provision of health care as demonstrated by certification by the educational commission of foreign medical graduates or other test designated by board rule;
(F)
Has submitted all necessary forms and releases for the board to conduct an international criminal background check on the physician before issuance of a provisional license under this act; and
(G)
Has passed steps one (1) and two (2) of either the United States medical licensing examination or the comprehensive osteopathic medical licensing examination in not more than three (3) attempts for each part.
(iv)
"Licensing country" means any foreign country as designated by board rule where an internationally trained physician is licensed and where the board has determined that medical licensing is adequate and in good standing;
(v)
"Supervising physician" means a person who:
(A)
Holds a full and unrestricted license in good standing issued by the board to practice medicine in Wyoming and has held the license for not less than the immediately preceding three (3) years;
(B)
Has not been disciplined by a medical licensing board in any state;
(C)
Is not under investigation by the board or any other state's medical licensing board;
(D)
Is certified in good and active standing by the American board of medical specialties, the American osteopathic association board of specialties or other national board specified by rule of the board;
(E)
Meets any other requirements set forth by rule of the board which rule the board determines is useful or necessary to determine the good standing and competency of the physician; and
(F)
Is approved to supervise an internationally trained physician in advance by the board.
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803.
State license for internationally trained physicians.
(a)
The board may grant a provisional license to practice medicine in Wyoming to an internationally trained physician who has a written offer of employment as a physician at any health care provider that operates in Wyoming. Before issuing the provisional license, the board shall require an internationally trained physician to complete an application form provided and approved by the board, pass an international criminal background check investigation, meet all requirements set forth in this article and in rules adopted by the board and pay all fees required by the board. The board:
(i)
Shall not grant a provisional license to practice medicine in this state to any internationally trained physician unless the physician is eligible to obtain federal immigration status that allows the physician to practice in the United States;
(ii)
May suspend a provisional license granted under this subsection if the internationally trained physician is not employed by a health care provider that operates in this state during the provisional license period. If the internationally trained physician loses employment with the health care provider, the license shall be suspended until the internationally trained physician obtains employment with another Wyoming health care provider. If the internationally trained physician cannot obtain required employment within six (6) months, the provisional license shall be revoked.
(b)
The board may suspend or revoke a provisional license granted under subsection (a) of this section pursuant to W.S. 33
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401 through 33
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410. Licensees may appeal the suspension or revocation of a provisional license in accordance with the requirements of W.S. 33
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401 through 33
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410.
(c)
Notwithstanding any other law, the holder of a provisional license issued under this article shall be eligible to apply to convert the license to a full, unrestricted license to practice medicine in this state after three (3) years of continuous, successful active practice in this state if the licensee:
(i)
Has not been disciplined under W.S. 33
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401 through 33
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410;
(ii)
Has followed all of the board's rules and regulations under the medical practice act; and
(iii)
Has passed step three (3) of the United States medical licensing examination or the comprehensive osteopathic medical licensing examination in not more than three (3) attempts.
(d)
Provisional license holders shall comply with the continuing medical education requirements and any other requirements for practicing physicians as set forth by the board's rules and this article.
(e)
Nothing in this section shall require the board to license, on a provisional or full basis, an internationally trained physician without evidence of full compliance with the requirements of this article and rules set forth by the board.
(f)
Internationally trained physicians who are required to obtain federal work authorization before commencing any work for the sponsoring health care provider are eligible to apply for a provisional license prior to receiving federal work authorization but shall not commence work under the provisional license without the required work authorization. The provisional license shall be under a nondisciplinary suspension until the board receives documentation demonstrating the holder's authorization to work in the United States. Upon receipt by the board of such documentation, the suspension of the provisional license shall be lifted with no additional action required by the board after the board notifies the internationally trained physician that the suspension has been lifted.
(g)
Internationally trained physicians who become licensed under subsection (a) of this section shall not be required to maintain employment with the original sponsoring health care provider.
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804.
Supervision requirements for internationally trained physicians.
(a)
An internationally trained physician's supervising physician, as approved by the board under this article, shall submit monthly reports to the board on the internationally trained physician's supervision and performance on a form or format designated by board rule.
(b)
A health care provider employing a physician holding a provisional license under this article shall submit monthly reports to the board on the internationally trained physician's performance on a form or format designated by board rule. If the supervising physician is employed by the sponsoring health care provider, the requirements of this subsection shall be considered met upon submission of the supervising physician's monthly report as set forth in subsection (a) of this section.
(c)
If a supervising physician fails to submit a satisfactory report as set forth by subsection (a) of this section, the supervising physician shall be considered to be in violation of this article and the provisional license shall be automatically suspended until the supervising physician submits all missing reports to the board within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of the missing reports.
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805.
Protection of the public.
(a)
The holder of a provisional license shall not practice outside of the supervision of a supervising physician.
(b)
The holder of a provisional license shall submit and keep on file with the board written proof of liability insurance in an amount and type to be set by board rule. If at any time the liability insurance covering a provisional license holder lapses or is otherwise compromised in any way, the provisional license holder and supervising physician shall notify the board in writing and within two (2) business days of the lapse or other situation. The provisional license shall be immediately and automatically suspended and shall remain so until satisfactory, written proof of coverage by professional liability insurance as set forth in this article is provided to the board.
(c)
The holder of a provisional license and the supervising physician shall notify the board in writing of the termination of the holder's employment or supervising arrangement, whether or not the termination was for cause. Upon termination of the holder's employment or supervision, the provisional license shall be immediately and automatically suspended, and shall remain so until all requirements of this article are met.
(d)
For the first year beginning on the date of issuance of a provisional license, where the holder of the license is engaged in patient contact, the supervising physician shall be in the same physical facility as the holder of the provisional license to provide immediate supervision to ensure patient safety.
(e)
Beginning upon the first anniversary of the issuance of a provisional license, and for the remaining time an internationally trained physician holds a provisional license, when the holder has patient contact, the supervising physician shall be available within fifteen (15) minutes to consult with and supervise the holder. This consultation and supervision may be done via telephone, videoconference or other mode allowing real time two (2) way communication between the holder and the supervising physician.
(f)
For the first year beginning on the date of issuance of a provisional license, the holder of the provisional license shall only prescribe controlled substances with the signature of the supervising physician. Upon completion of the first year after issuance of a provisional license, the holder of the provisional license may prescribe controlled substances subject to all laws of Wyoming and the United States, and with regular review of all controlled substance prescriptions by the supervising physician.
(g)
The holder of a provisional license under this article may not supervise the practice of medicine by a physician assistant.
Section 2
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W.S. 7
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106(a)(xxiii), 33
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102(a)(x), 33
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202(b) by creating a new paragraph (xx), 33
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301(b) by creating a new paragraph (ix), 33
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303 by creating a new subsection (e), 33
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305(a), 33
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401(e), 33
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402(a) by creating a new paragraph (xxxvii) and 35
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1
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401(a)(x) are amended to read:
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106.
Access to, and dissemination of, information.
(a)
Criminal history record information shall be disseminated by criminal justice agencies in this state, whether directly or through any intermediary, only to:
(xxiii)
The board of medicine for purposes of obtaining background information on applicants
, including applicants who are internationally trained physicians under W.S. 33
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801 through 33
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805,
for licensure or certification by the board
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whose application or other information received by the board indicates the applicant has or may have been convicted of a crime, and for purposes of investigation of complaints and disciplinary action against licensees of the board;
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102.
Definitions.
(a)
As used in this chapter:
(x)
"Licensee" means any person licensed by the board under this chapter
, including a person granted a provisional license under W.S. 33
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801 through 33
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;
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202.
Board; duties; general powers.
(b)
The board is empowered and directed to:
(xx)
Adopt rules and regulations regarding granting internationally trained physicians provisional licenses, and the practice of medicine by the holder of such license, pursuant to W.S. 33
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801 through 33
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805.
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301.
License required.
(b)
Upon appropriate application, fulfillment of eligibility criteria and successful completion of all other requirements, the board may grant:
(ix)
A provisional license to an internationally trained physician pursuant to W.S. 33
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801 through 33
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805.
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303.
Requirements for granting license.
(e)
Notwithstanding the requirements of this section, the board may grant a provisional license to practice medicine in this state to an internationally trained physician pursuant to the requirements of W.S. 33
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801 through 33
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805.
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305.
Annual renewal; expiration; reactivation of lapsed and inactive licenses; restoration of emeritus licenses to active status; duplicates.
(a)
All licenses
granted under this chapter
other than temporary licenses and medical training licenses shall lapse annually on a date or dates to be established by rules adopted by the board.
A licensee may renew his license each year by submitting a renewal application containing information required by the board, accompanied by proof of compliance with and fulfillment of continuing medical education requirements of the board in the manner set forth in the board’s continuing medical education rules and regulations and a renewal fee to the board in an amount set by the board pursuant to W.S. 33
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307.
The licensee
, including the holder of a provisional license under W.S. 33
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801 through 33
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additionally shall report any
investigative or
disciplinary action pending or taken by a state examining board, a health care entity or the grievance committee of a medical society during the preceding year.
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401.
Board duties; investigation; interview.
(e)
The board retains jurisdiction over only those licensees to whom
provisional licenses under W.S. 33
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801 through 33
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temporary or full licenses were granted and who are subject to ongoing investigation by the board, regardless of whether the license expired, lapsed or was relinquished during or after the alleged occurrence of conduct proscribed by W.S. 33
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402 by the licensee.
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402.
Grounds for suspension; revocation; restriction; imposition of conditions; refusal to renew or other disciplinary action.
(a)
The board may refuse to renew, and may revoke, suspend or restrict a license or take other disciplinary action, including the imposition of conditions or restrictions upon a license on one (1) or more of the following grounds:
(xxxvii)
Violating the provisions of W.S. 33
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801 through 33
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805.
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1
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401.
Definitions.
(a)
As used in this act:
(x)
"Physician" means a person authorized or licensed to practice medicine as provided in W.S. 33
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101 through
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601
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805
;
Section 3
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The state board of medicine shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act.
Section 4.
(a)
Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2026
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(b)
Sections 3 and 4 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.
(END)
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HB0129