MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Military Affairs; Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative DeLano
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-25-18, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT PHYSICIANS WHO ARE CURRENTLY SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMED FORCES OF UNITED STATES OR IN THE NATIONAL GUARD MAY RECEIVE A SPECIAL VOLUNTEER MEDICAL LICENSE UNDER WHICH THEY MAY DONATE THEIR SERVICES FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEEDY PERSONS OR PERSONS IN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE STATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 73-25-18, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
73-25-18. (1) There is established a special volunteer medical license for physicians who are retired from active practice or are currently serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of United States or in the National Guard and wish to donate their expertise for the medical care and treatment of indigent and needy persons or persons in medically underserved areas of the state. The special volunteer medical license shall be issued by the State Board of Medical Licensure to eligible physicians without the payment of any application fee, examination fee, license fee or renewal fee, shall be issued for a fiscal year or part thereof, and shall be renewable annually upon approval of the board.
(2) A physician must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a special volunteer medical license:
(a) Completion of a special volunteer medical license application, including documentation of the physician's medical school or osteopathic school graduation and practice history;
(b) Documentation that the physician has been previously issued an unrestricted license to practice medicine in Mississippi or in another state of the United States and that he or she has never been the subject of any medical disciplinary action in any jurisdiction;
(c) Acknowledgement and documentation that the physician's practice under the special volunteer medical license will be exclusively and totally devoted to providing medical care to needy and indigent persons in Mississippi or persons in medically underserved areas in Mississippi; and
(d) Acknowledgement and documentation that the physician will not receive any payment or compensation, either direct or indirect, or have the expectation of any payment or compensation, for any medical services rendered under the special volunteer medical license.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.