H.B. 1813 - Assistant Physicians Pilot Program

• Establishes a three-year pilot program creating a new category of professional licensure for "assistant physicians" - recent medical school graduates who have passed certain medical exams but have not yet entered residency programs.

• Allows assistant physicians to work under supervision of licensed physicians to provide primary care in medically underserved rural or urban areas, healthcare facilities with residency training programs, or designated pilot project areas.

• Requires assistant physicians to meet qualifications including U.S. citizenship/legal resident status, successful completion of USMLE Steps 1 and 2 (or equivalent) within four years of graduation, and English language proficiency.

• Mandates written collaborative practice arrangements between supervising physicians and assistant physicians, with requirements for geographic proximity, regular chart review (minimum 10% every fourteen days, 20% for controlled substance prescriptions), and disciplinary oversight by the Hawaii Medical Board.

• Limits each supervising physician to no more than three full-time equivalent assistant physicians and sets assistant physician licensure fees at or below those for physician assistants.