New bill allows internationally trained doctors to meet health care demands in Georgia

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Georgia's Senate Bill 427 creates a limited provisional license for internationally trained physicians to practice medicine under supervision.

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Georgia consistently ranks at the bottom nationwide for access to health care and affordability. But advocates for better health care access in Georgia say the state has taken an important step in attracting more medical professionals through Senate Bill 427, which is now on Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk.

Since 2010, nine rural hospitals have closed in Georgia, making the state third in the nation for hospital closures behind Tennessee and Texas, according to Georgians for a Healthy Future.

SB 427 helps bring doctors from outside the country to work in the state’s rural counties, licensed hospitals and medical schools.

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Natalie Crawford, executive director of healthcare advocacy for the nonprofit Georgia First, said the bill creates a limited provisional license for internationally trained physicians to practice medicine under supervision.

"We feel like that's an important step in attracting more talent, more medical professionals to Georgia, especially in rural areas where oftentimes we don't have adequate access to care for patients," she said.

This need is especially critical in the wake of large-scale federal changes to health care. 

"We have about 500,000 Georgians that are expected to lose their health care coverage over the next decade as a result of the impacts of HR1 and the recent expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits," Crawford said. 

Natalie Crawford said the No. 1 priority for Georgia First remains Medicaid expansion in Georgia.

"We think the best next step for Georgia is to expand Medicaid, and that would unlock a new option for hundreds of thousands of Georgians, getting us extra federal funding to help cover them," Crawford said, "and expanding Medicaid in Georgia would help to keep more people in the workforce, boost our economy, and protect our rural hospitals."

Kemp has until 40 days after the end of the session — May 12 — to sign or veto legislation passed by the General Assembly.