ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5273

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 12, 2025

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5273.

     This bill establishes the “Graduate Physician Licensing Act.”

     Under the amended bill, the State Board of Medical Examiners (board) will issue a license as a graduate physician to an applicant who:  1) is at least 18 years of age; 2) is a medical school graduate; 3) has completed one year of clinical practice hours; 4) has successfully completed Step 2 of the physician licensing examination; 5) has not completed an approved postgraduate residency; and 6) has no criminal history.  Alternatively, the board may accept proof that an applicant holds a current graduate physician license in a state which has standards substantially equivalent to those of New Jersey.

     Graduate physicians will be authorized to provide primary care services in medically underserved areas of the State, subject to any restrictions set forth in a collaborative practice arrangement with a collaborating physician, who is responsible for supervising the graduate physician at all times.  The delivery of health care services is to be within the scope of practice of the graduate physician and consistent with that graduate physician's skill, training, and competence and the skill and training of the collaborating physician.  Graduate physicians may be delegated the authority to prescribe controlled dangerous substances and authorize patients for medical cannabis, subject to certain restrictions.

     The bill further requires health benefits plans, the Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program, to reimburse a graduate physician for the diagnosis, consultation, or treatment of patients on the same basis that reimbursement is provided for the service when it is delivered by another comparable mid-level health provider including, but not limited to, a physician assistant.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments add a requirement that a graduate physician applicant have completed one year of clinical practice hours.

      The committee amendments make technical changes concerning numbering.