Pennsylvania Act 2015-73 — MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT OF 1985 - VISITING TEAM PHYSICIAN

Act text

Session of 2015

No. 2015-73

SB 685

AN ACT

Amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), entitled "An act relating to the right to practice medicine and surgery and the right to practice medically related acts; reestablishing the State Board of Medical Education and Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and providing for its composition, powers and duties; providing for the issuance of licenses and certificates and the suspension and revocation of licenses and certificates; providing penalties; and making repeals," providing for visiting team physician.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. The act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, is amended by adding a section to read:

Section 13.6. Visiting team physician.

(a) Licensure exemption.--A physician who is licensed in good standing to practice in another state shall be exempt from the licensure requirements of this act while practicing in this Commonwealth if either of the following apply:

(1) The physician has a written or oral agreement with a sports team to provide care to the team members and coaching staff traveling with the team for a specific sporting event to take place in this Commonwealth.

(2) The physician has been invited by a national sport governing body to provide services to team members and coaching staff at a national sport training center in this Commonwealth or to provide services at an event or competition in this Commonwealth which is sanctioned by the national sport governing body so long as:

(i) The physician's practice is limited to that required by the national sport governing body.

(ii) The services provided by the physician must be within the area of the physician's competence.

(b) Limitations.--A physician who is exempt under subsection (a) from licensure may not:

(1) Provide care or consultation to any person residing in this Commonwealth other than a person delineated in subsection (a) or as otherwise provided by State law.

(2) Practice at a health care clinic or health care facility, including an acute care facility.

(c) Duration.--An exemption under subsection (a) shall be valid for the following duration:

(1) An exemption under subsection (a)(1) shall remain in force while the physician is traveling with the sports team but shall be no longer than ten days in duration per sporting event. A maximum of 20 additional days per sporting event may be granted upon prior request to the board by the physician but may not exceed 30 days total.

(2) An exemption under subsection (a)(2) shall remain in force during the time certified by the national sport governing body. The exemption may not exceed 30 days.

(d) Agreements with other states.--The board may enter into agreements with the medical licensing boards of other states to implement the provisions of this section. Agreements may include procedures for reporting potential medical license violations.

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 6th day of December, A.D. 2015.

TOM WOLF