LA HB138

Restructures Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners membership to include one physician from each of the nine Louisiana Department of Health administrative regions and one non-physician healthcare professional regulated by the board

Requires the first non-physician healthcare professional appointed to be a physician assistant serving a four-year term

Increases residency requirement for physician board members from six months to five years at time of appointment

Places all board members under the auspices of the Louisiana Department of Health, serving at the pleasure of the governor, and repeals existing removal procedures

Shifts authority for hiring the director of investigations from the board directly to the executive director, with the director of investigations now required to recommend disciplinary actions to the board