Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §3279-A is enacted to read:

§3279-A.__Limited license to practice medicine; requirements;

limitations of practice

1.__Requirements.__A person desiring to obtain a limited license to practice medicine must:

A.__Submit to the board an application and a verified affidavit stating that the applicant has been licensed to practice medicine in this State or in any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia for at least 10 years and is retired from the practice of medicine and that the applicant's license was in good standing at retirement;

B.__Meet the requirements in section 3271 or 3275 and section 3280-A; and

C.__Notwithstanding sections 3271, 3275 and 3280-A, pay a fee of $25 for a limited license or the renewal of a limited license.

2.__Continuing education.__The board may not require more than 5 hours of continuing education annually as a requirement of renewal under this section of a limited license.

3.__Patients limited.__A physician with a limited license under this section may provide services only in accordance with this subsection.__A physician with a limited license may provide primary care and preventive health care services without compensation.__These services may be provided to family members or at facilities described in Title 24, section 2904.

4.__Services limited.__As used in this section, primary care and preventive health care services are limited to noninvasive procedures and do not include obstetrical care or any specialized care or treatment but may include injections, the suturing of minor lacerations and incisions of boils or superficial abscesses.

SUMMARY

This bill permits a retired physician to obtain a limited license to practice medicine. A limited license allows a physician to provide primary care and preventive health care services without compensation. These services may be provided to family members or at certain facilities operated by nonprofit organizations or the government.