The North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) is considering the creation of a Special Purpose License for Administrative Medicine for physicians to perform non-certification work. Under current rules, any physician performing such work is required to maintain a full license, including participation in a re-entry program for physicians who have not practiced for several years. This newly proposed license would not require a re-entry program; however, administrative medicine licensees would be prohibited from practicing clinical medicine and would have no prescriptive authority.
The NCMB Best Practices Committee considered this proposal at their January 19, 2010 meeting, and the issue will be revisited at the March committee meeting. You can view draft language for this license here with NCMS staff notes.
at 4:17 pm
I think a 2 tier licensing system will create more problems than it solves as pointed out in the other comments. In addition it will significantly weaken the qualities and stature of medical leadership potentially to the point where “leadership” in medical systems and medical affairs will be wielded by non medical persons. The potential benefit of this approach is greatly overshadowed by its negative aspects.
at 2:42 pm
This would legitimize the a syndrome of “clipboard” physicians, removed from clinical practice, but yet making decisions that affect clinical care. You are either a licensed (full license) or you are not. In addition, I think we would be setting a terrible precedent for the future of medicine. It would be easier to get this license without all the CME and other requirements, so some would migrate to these positions, yet still have the classification of being “licensed.”
The NCMB should take a strong stand that working in administrative medicine means having the full current credentials to practice – thus full licensure.
at 6:40 pm
Medical directorships for Chief Medical officer positions in hospitals, commerical insurance companies and medical management companies oversee clinical care, make recommendations, and approve or deny care on a daily basis. For one of these positions to have anything less than a full medical liscense may compromise patient care, coerce a practicing physicians clinical decision making, and may be in direct conflict with appropriate “standard of care” in specific communities. I would urge the NCMS to strongly oppose this substandard licensure.Ive seen it happen twice in our medical community.
at 8:00 am
I am not sure what pressing problem this solves. It looks like a way to facilitate insurance funded utilization review doctors (police) not having to deal with life in the trenches. Would the new category of license holders be absolved from CME requirements to maintain their licenses? Unless I am really missing something, this looks like the most recent version of solving problems which do not exist. How does this innovation help discharge the board’s main responsibility which is to protect the public.
at 9:43 pm
This proposal has potential for unintended consequences which would not improve the practice of medicine for NC citizens. Those physicians who migrate to such a position with lower licensing credentials than those they are organizing, approving or denying payment for, etc, would certainly not be appreciated by those actually practicing medicine with a full NC medical license. They may be placing themselves in a “no-win situation” should a contested decision end up in litigation. Please retain full licensure for “adminstrators and researchers” to avoid a two tiered system. The fact that a foreign medical graduate is the first person to ask about the availability of this situation is worrisome.
at 7:31 pm
Seems like a bad idea.
If a physician becomes an administrator why does he need a medical license? If the position requires a medical license then he should have a real one.
Seems like an excuse for someone to be able to make medically impacting decisions without the restrictions of a full license.
at 4:35 pm
As a physician who has worked in administrative medicine for 10 years as Medical Director, EVP of a hospital owned Physician Group, and VPMA/CMO of a hospital but still practices as an ID consultant and maintains hospital privileges I think this is a good idea. In the notes section I see some comments about board certification. I don’t know of any administrative position that would not require board certification in a recognized specialty and clinical practice for at least 5 years (many are 10)
at 4:32 pm
I don’t fully comprehend what the purpose of this status would be.
You don’t need a license to call yourself “Dr.” if in fact you have the degree.
You don’t need a license to be an administrator of any health plan or insurance program.
The last thing I want is for someone who is not capable or eligible of medical practice to be making decisions about insurance coverage, pharmacy benefit formularies, or other such activities.
What resources/capabilities does NC gain by creating such a license status?
at 4:23 pm
Would a forgein Graduate physician that work in an a hospital as administrator fit for that,
Please let me know