Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §2575, as amended by PL 1997, c. 50, §7, is further amended to read:

§2575. Camp physicians

An osteopathic physician who is a graduate of a school or college of osteopathic medicine approved by the American Osteopathic Association and who is of good repute may, at the discretion of the board, make application for a temporary license to practice as a camp physician at a specified camp. Such an osteopathic physician is entitled to practice only on the patients at the camp. The license must be obtained each year. Applications for such a temporary license must be made in the same manner as for regular licenses. An examination may not be exacted from applicants for temporary licenses. The fee may not be more than $500 $750.

Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §2576, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §178, is further amended to read:

§2576. Visiting instructors

A temporary visiting instructor's license may be granted an osteopathic physician who holds a current and valid license to practice osteopathic medicine in another state. This license entitles the osteopathic physician to practice in this State when that physician is performing osteopathic medical procedures as a part of a course or courses of instruction in continuing medical education in a hospital in this State. The annual fee for such a temporary license may not be more than $100 $150. The license issued pursuant to this section is for a duration set by the board. Such a temporary license may be revoked for any one of the reasons in section 2591-A.

Sec. 6. 32 MRSA §2581, 2nd ¶, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §180, is further amended to read:

Every osteopathic physician legally licensed to practice in this State, shall, on or before the first day of January of each even-numbered year expiration date of the osteopathic physician's

license, pay to the board a fee set by the board not to exceed $500 $750 for the renewal of the osteopathic physician's license to practice. An osteopathic physician's license is issued for a period of 2 years and must be renewed in accordance with a schedule adopted by the board by rule.__Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A. In addition to the payment of the renewal fee, each licensee applying for the renewal of the osteopathic physician's license shall furnish to the board satisfactory evidence that the osteopathic physician has attended in the 2 preceding years at least 100 hours of educational programs devoted to continuing medical education approved by the board. The required education must be obtained from formalized programs of continuing medical education sponsored by recognized associations, colleges or universities, hospitals, institutes or groups approved by the board. A copy of the current approved list must be available in the office of the secretary-treasurer of the board. At least 40% of these credit hours must be osteopathic medical education approved in the rules established by the board. The board may adjudicate continuing medical education performance in situations of illness, hardship or military service upon written petition by the applicant. The secretary-treasurer of the board shall send a written notice of the foregoing requirements to each osteopathic physician, at least 60 days prior to January 1st each osteopathic physician's license expiration date, directed to the last known address of the licensee and enclosing with the notice proper blank forms for application for renewal. If a licensee fails to furnish the board evidence of attendance at continuing medical educational programs, as approved by the board, fails to pay the renewal fee or fails to submit a completed application for renewal, the osteopathic physician automatically forfeits the right to practice osteopathic medicine in this State. After January 1st of each even-numbered year the expiration of a license, the board shall send notice by first class mail to each licensee who has failed to meet the requirements for renewal. If the failure is not corrected within 30 days, then the osteopathic physician's license may be considered lapsed by the board. The secretary- treasurer of the board may reinstate the osteopathic physician upon the presentation of satisfactory evidence of continuing medical education as outlined and approved by the board and upon payment of the renewal fee.

Sec. 7. 32 MRSA §2594-C, sub-§2, ¶¶H and I, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §186, are further amended to read:

H. Requirements for initial licensure, including fees, which may not exceed $100 $150;

I. Requirements for annual licensure, including fees, which may not exceed $75 $125;

Sec. 8. 32 MRSA §2594-C, sub-§2, ¶¶L and M, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §186, are further amended to read:

L. Requirements for physician supervision of physician extenders, including fees, which may not exceed $100 $150; and

M. Requirements for transfer of licensure by a physician extender to another physician, including fees, which may not exceed $25 $50.

Sec. 9. Authority to assess osteopathic physicians. The Board of Osteopathic Licensure may assess, by rule, each osteopathic physician licensed in this State a one-time fee established by the board not to exceed $100 if the board's revenues are insufficient to enable it to comply with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, chapter 36. The authority to assess a one-time special assessment expires on December 31, 2003. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

SUMMARY

This bill increases the fee caps for the Board of Osteopathic Licensure and provides the board with the authority to adopt a renewal schedule by rule. The bill also authorizes the board to adopt, by rule, a one-time special assessment not to exceed $100 if the board's revenues are insufficient to meet its obligations. The authority for the special assessment will expire on December 31, 2003.