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Licensing board’s appointees now require Senate approval
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Posted on Dec 01 2008
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has signed into law a bill requiring Senate approval for appointments to the Health Care Professions Licensing Board.
Under the new law, all future appointees of the medical licensing board must go through the Senate confirmation process.
The Legislature previously passed a bill with a similar intent. Gov. Benigno R. Fitial vetoed the legislation because of a technical problem. The old bill sought to amend the now-repealed law that had created the defunct Medical Professional Licensing Board. The Health Care Professions Licensing Board replaced MPLD in 2007 as the independent regulatory body for medical professionals in the Commonwealth.
On Oct. 7, 2008, the House of Representatives passed a modified version of the bill. The Senate followed suit on Oct. 17.
Sponsored by Rep. Victor Hocog, the measure states that, “the powers, duties and functions of the board carry great responsibility and importance to the health and welfare of the people of the CNMI. To ensure the integrity and dignity of the Health Care Professions Licensing Board, the Legislature finds that credentials of appointees to the board should be thoroughly scrutinized.”
Currently, the licensing board consists of five members appointed by the governor. No Senate confirmation is required.
The board includes one dentist, two physicians, and two members from other health care professions. To be appointed, a health care professional must be practicing in the Commonwealth, a CNMI resident for two years, and engaged in the practice of his or her profession for at least five years before the appointment.
