The Elson Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University and any other medical school in Washington state will be better able to recruit physicians to serve on their faculties, as a result of legislation passed today by the House on a 91-6 vote. Having already passed the Senate unanimously, the bill now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee to be signed into law.
Senate Bill 5413, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, updates state laws to extend practices already in place at the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine. When the guidelines were originally written, they addressed only UW since its medical school was the only one in the state at the time. This bill corrects that arbitrary restriction.
“Until now, physicians from outside Washington state have been blocked from becoming fully licensed, making it difficult for medical schools to recruit faculty,” Cleveland said. “This will open the doors to experienced, capable physicians and allow our medical schools to recruit and retain the best faculties possible. This bill also creates an additional pathway to full licensure. More pathways for licensure means Washington’s citizens will have greater access to expert medical care and consultation.”
