Date: 04/24/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB06-217

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer the bill to the Committee of the Whole. ThePASS


01:37 PM -- Senate Bill 06-217

Representative T. Carroll, sponsor, presented the bill regarding a distinguished foreign teaching physician license that may be renewed annually. He stated the bill will allow Colorado to compete in bringing top-notch international physicians to practice and teach in the state. He described Colorado's and the United States' shortage of highly qualified physicians.

The following persons testified:

01:45 PM -- Dr. Richard Krugman, University of Colorado School of Medicine, described the anticipated shortage of physicians nationwide. This shortage is expected to occur around 2010 to 2015. Currently, the University of Colorado has 12 physicians (about 1 percent of the medical faculty) who would qualify for the proposed license. Dr. Krugman stated the school is concerned now with retaining these foreign physicians. He discussed reasons for the projected physician shortage and the specialties most likely to experience a shortage.

01:52 PM -- Dr. Wade Smith, Denver Health Medical Center, spoke in support of the bill. He described difficulties in recruiting trauma care providers. These providers work very long hours on the most urgent medical cases. Dr. Smith described qualifications and testing of foreign physicians practicing in Colorado.

01:59 PM -- Dr. Mory Ziegler, The Children's Hospital, discussed the hospital's recruitment of a foreign congenital heart surgeon. This physician serves not only Children's Hospital but other Colorado hospitals as well.

02:01 PM -- Susan Miller, Colorado Medical Board, described the board's review and strict scrutiny of foreign physicians. She stated that in 12 years, the board has not received any complaints against distinguished teaching physicians. If a complaint were received, standard licensing procedures would be followed.


02:07 PM

Representative T. Carroll made concluding remarks. He described Denver Health as an elite teaching facility.
BILL:SB06-217
TIME: 02:08:58 PM
MOVED:Stafford
MOTION:Refer the bill to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 13-0.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Berens
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Green
Yes
Kerr A.
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Soper
Yes
Stafford
Yes
Sullivan
Yes
Weissmann
Yes
Frangas
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS