HB243: Medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, and podiatric medicine; requirements for practitioners.

HOUSE BILL NO. 243

Offered January 12, 2022
Prefiled January 10, 2022
A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-2930 of the Code of Virginia, relating to practitioners of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, and podiatric medicine; requirements.
Patron-- Adams, D.M.

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 54.1-2930 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 54.1-2930. Requirements for licensure.

A. The Board may issue a license to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, and podiatric medicine to any candidate who has submitted satisfactory evidence verified by affidavits that he:

1. Is 18 years of age or more;

2. Is of good moral character;

3. Has successfully completed all or such part as may be prescribed by the Board, of an educational course of study of that branch of the healing arts in which he desires a license to practice, which course of study and the educational institution providing that course of study are acceptable to the Board; and

4. Has completed at least 12 36 months of satisfactory postgraduate training in one program or institution approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board for internships or residency training. At the discretion of the Board, the postgraduate training may be waived if an applicant for licensure in podiatry has been in active practice for four continuous years while serving in the military and is a diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. Applicants for licensure in chiropractic need not fulfill this requirement.

In determining whether such course of study and institution are acceptable to it, the Board may consider the reputation of the institution and whether it is approved or accredited by regional or national educational or professional associations, including such organizations as the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Liaison Committee on Medical Education, Council on Postgraduate Training of the American Osteopathic Association, Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, College of Family Physicians of Canada, Committee for the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, Education Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or their appropriate subsidiary agencies; by any appropriate agency of the United States government; or by any other organization approved by the Board.

B. Every practitioner licensed to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, and podiatric medicine shall obtain and maintain coverage by or shall be named insured on a professional liability insurance policy with limits equal to the current limitation on damages set forth in § 8.01-581.15.