I get the same instinct, but on reflection I don’t endorse it. How much work in ensuring doctor quality is state-level required licensing actually accomplishing, as opposed to medical school graduation, residency completion, malpractice insurance premiums, employers (for anyone who doesn’t run their own practice), and legal action (including lawsuits as well as criminal negligence and similar charges)? For whatever part may be additional and due to licensing, how does that stack up against the effects of restricting the supply of doctors, increasing the price of medical care, and reducing the ability of patients to receive telemedical care or consultations from experts or specialists who happen to be in another state?
Even if there is a licensing regime of some sort, I think there should be automatic reciprocity among all US states and territories, and between the US and a list of other countries with reasonably comparable or better standards. Same logic should be applied to drug and medical device approvals.
I get the same instinct, but on reflection I don’t endorse it. How much work in ensuring doctor quality is state-level required licensing actually accomplishing, as opposed to medical school graduation, residency completion, malpractice insurance premiums, employers (for anyone who doesn’t run their own practice), and legal action (including lawsuits as well as criminal negligence and similar charges)? For whatever part may be additional and due to licensing, how does that stack up against the effects of restricting the supply of doctors, increasing the price of medical care, and reducing the ability of patients to receive telemedical care or consultations from experts or specialists who happen to be in another state?
Even if there is a licensing regime of some sort, I think there should be automatic reciprocity among all US states and territories, and between the US and a list of other countries with reasonably comparable or better standards. Same logic should be applied to drug and medical device approvals.