SF 1049 creates an international medical graduates assistance program to address the barriers to integrating international medical graduates into the Minnesota health care delivery system.

Section 1 (144.1911) establishes the international medical graduates assistance program

Subd. 1 provides the legislative findings and establishes the international medical graduate assistance program.

Subd. 2 defines the following terms:  board; commissioner; immigrant international medical graduate; international medical graduate; Minnesota immigrant international medical graduate; rural community; and underserved community.

Subd. 3 requires the Commissioner of Health to administer the program.  In administering the program, the commissioner shall (1) provide overall coordination for the planning, development, and implementation of a system for integrating qualified immigrant international medical graduates into the Minnesota health care delivery system; (2) develop and maintain a voluntary roster of immigrant  international medical graduates interested in entering the Minnesota health work force; (3) award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide career guidance and support services to immigrant international medical graduates seeking to enter the Minnesota health care workforce; (4) award the initial round of grants under this program by December 2015; (5) work with graduate clinical medical training programs to address barriers faced by immigrant international medical graduates in securing residency positions in Minnesota; (6) develop a standardized assessment of the clinical readiness of eligible immigrant international medical graduates to serve in a residency program; (7) issue a certificate of clinical readiness for residency to those who pass the assessment; (8) develop a plan for assessment and certification system by December 31, 2015; (9) award grants to support clinical preparation or experience to qualify for residency; (10) develop policies and procedures for the clinical preparation program by December 2015; (11) award grants to support primary care residency positions designated for Minnesota immigrant physicians who are willing to serve in rural and underserved areas of the state; (12) explore and facilitate more streamlined pathways for immigrant international medical graduates to serve in nonphysician professions; and (13) study changes necessary in health professional licensure and regulation to ensure full utilization of immigrant international medical graduates in the Minnesota health care delivery system and report recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2016.

Subd. 4 requires the commissioner to administer the program in consultation with a number of stakeholders.

Subd. 5 specifies that this section does not alter the authority of the Board of Medical Practice to regulate the practice or the licensing of the practice of medicine.

Subd. 6 requires the commissioner to submit an annual report to the legislature on integration of international medical graduates into the Minnesota health care delivery system.

Subd. 7 specifies that a hospital may establish residency programs for foreign trained physicians to become candidates for licensure to practice medicine.

Section 2 appropriates money to the Commissioner of Health for the grants and the operation of the international medical graduates assistance program.