Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

Michigan House Bill HB4896

Introduced
9/11/25  
Refer
9/11/25  
Report Pass
11/12/25  

Caption

Health occupations: physicians; license to engage in the practice of medicine for international medical school graduates; provide for under certain circumstances. Amends secs. 17001 & 17011 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.17001 & 333.17011). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4925'25

Impact

If passed, HB4896 could significantly enhance the state's capacity to address healthcare accessibility issues, especially in underserved areas. The amendments aim to ensure that licensure requirements for international graduates are fair and do not exceed those imposed on domestic graduates. By streamlining the licensing process, the bill is designed to facilitate the integration of these medical professionals into the state's healthcare system, thereby contributing to enhanced patient care and broader healthcare service availability.

Summary

House Bill 4896 aims to amend sections of the Michigan Public Health Code concerning the licensure of physicians who are graduates of international medical schools. The bill provides for specific provisions that allow these graduates to engage in the practice of medicine under certain conditions. It establishes criteria that these applicants must meet to demonstrate competency, which includes not placing an undue burden on the medical licensing process for individuals trained abroad. This legislative change seeks to address shortages in the healthcare workforce, particularly by enabling qualified international graduates to practice in Michigan more readily.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB4896 primarily hinge on concerns regarding patient safety and the qualifications of international medical graduates. Critics may argue that the bill could potentially dilute the standards required for medical licensure in Michigan, raising fears about the implications for patient care and safety. Proponents of the bill, on the other hand, emphasize the importance of maintaining rigorous standards while also making necessary accommodations for qualified individuals who have the potential to alleviate workforce shortages in the medical field. The successful passage of this bill may require balancing these interests to ensure that public health is upheld.

Companion Bills

MI HB4925

Same As Health occupations: physicians; license to engage in the practice of medicine for international medical school graduates; provide for under certain circumstances. Amends secs. 17012 & 17031 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.17012 & 333.17031) & adds sec. 17012a. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4896'25

Previously Filed As

MI HB4925

Health occupations: physicians; license to engage in the practice of medicine for international medical school graduates; provide for under certain circumstances. Amends secs. 17012 & 17031 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.17012 & 333.17031) & adds sec. 17012a. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4896'25

MI SB0428

Health occupations: health professionals; licensure of anesthesiologist assistants; provide for. Amends secs. 7303a, 17001, 17011, 17501 & 17511 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.7303a et seq.) & adds secs. 16325a, 17034, 17034a, 17034b, 17534, 17534a & 17534b.

MI HB4832

Health occupations: health professionals; licensure of anesthesiologist assistants; provide for. Amends secs. 7303a, 17001, 17011, 17501 & 17511 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.7303a et seq.) & adds secs. 16325a, 17034, 17034a, 17034b, 17534, 17534a & 17534b.

MI HB4309

Health occupations: physician's assistants; physician's assistants licensure compact; provide for. Amends sec. 18001 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.18001) & adds secs. 16188, 17011b, 17511b & 18011b.

MI SB142

Physicians; certain licensure for qualifying international medical graduates; provide

MI HB4032

Health occupations: physicians; interstate medical licensure compact; remove sunset. Amends sec. 16189 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.16189).

MI SB0060

Health occupations: physicians; interstate medical licensure compact; remove sunset. Amends sec. 16189 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.16189).

MI HB4104

Health occupations: occupational therapists; licensure process for occupational therapists; modify to incorporate occupational therapy licensure compact. Amends secs. 16345, 18301 & 18305 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.16345 et seq.) & adds secs. 18303a & 18303b. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4103'25

MI HB5455

Health occupations: physicians; interstate medical licensure compact; update. Amends 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.1101 - 333.25211) by adding sec. 16189.

MI SB0303

Health occupations: physicians; interstate medical licensure compact; update. Amends 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.1101 - 333.25211) by adding sec. 16189.

Similar Bills

CA AB2398

Graduate medical education capacity: report.

NV AB170

Providing for the licensure of associate physicians and associate osteopathic physicians. (BDR 54-840)

GA HB1273

Professions and businesses; authorize physician assistants to receive certain delegated authorities from podiatric physicians

LA HB1143

Provides relative to physician assistants

MO HB2749

Modifies provisions relating to collaborative practice arrangements between physicians and physician assistants

NM HB267

Physician Assistants Supervising Others

MO HB3039

Modifies provisions relating to the prescriptive authority of physician assistants

DE HB325

An Act To Amend The Delaware Code Relating To Physician Associates And Physician Assistants.