The Tennessee Medical Foundation is pleased to announce that Governor Bill Lee has signed a bill that maintains protection for patients while reducing mental health stigma for physician seeking a medical license in Tennessee.
The Private Advocacy Order Bill, HB 1203/SB 359, was sponsored by State Sen. Richard Briggs, MD (R-Knoxville), and State Rep. Sabi Kumar, MD (R-Springfield).
The bill authorizes the Board of Medical Examiners (BME) and the Board of Osteopathic Examination (BOE), during an informal initial application interview in executive session, to issue a full, unrestricted license under a Private Advocacy Order that requires the applicant to maintain advocacy of a peer assistance program such as the TMF. The Bill establishes that an individual practicing under a private advocacy order who fails to maintain the advocacy of a peer assistance program may be subject to disciplinary action by the BME or BOE.
Previously, this would be a conditional license requiring a report to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); under the new law, this is not a restriction on the license and is issued in a non-public forum, so it is no longer reportable to the NPDB.
“We are grateful to Governor Lee, Commissioner of Health Dr. Ralph Alvarado, Sen. Briggs, Rep. Kumar, and many other state leaders for their role in this landmark legislation,” said TMF Medical Director Michael Baron, MD, MPH, DFASAM. Dr. Baron, who met with Commissioner Alvarado to initiate the bill, also recognized former BME member and current TMF Board member Reeves Johnson, MD, of Knoxville, for his advocacy in passing the measure.
“This new law protects the public by ensuring the confidentiality of physicians seeking a Tennessee medical license, who are safe to practice, as long as they maintain their health with verification and support through the TMF,” Dr. Baron added.