A Resource Guide for Responding to Attempts to Weaken State Medical Licensing Boards by Legislating a Higher Standard of Evidence

Recently, bills have been introduced in a number of state legislatures that would weaken the state medical licensing boards (the Boards) in one way or another. In some instances, the legislative attacks have had the full support, if not sponsorship, of state medical societies which allege that the Boards have become "too punitive" in their efforts to police the delivery of health care services by physicians. In the past year, public members of the Boards in the states subject to these legislative initiatives have asked the Citizen Advocacy Center (CAC) for assistance in helping the Boards deflect these efforts to weaken their powers. The CAC responded by helping marshall arguments and supporting data to counter these legislative initiatives and by putting interested parties in these states in touch with each other. Because a number of public members have expressed concern that such legislative attacks might be launched in other states, the CAC decided to prepare this resource guide.