2025: Jennifer Balkcom Abstained From Voting On A Bill To Make It Easier For Physicians And Physicians Assistants To Become Licensed In North Carolina

June 2025: Balkcom Did Not Vote On H.B. 67, A Bill To Create An Expedited Pathway For Physicians And Physician Assistants To Become Licensed In North Carolina

June 2025: Balkcom Did Not Vote On H.B. 67, “An Act To Enact Healthcare Workforce Reforms For The State Of North Carolina.” In June 2025, Balkcom did not vote on H.B. 67, “an act to enact healthcare workforce reforms for the state of North Carolina.” [North Carolina General Assembly, H.B. 67, 6/24/25]

• H.B. 67 Established North Carolina As A Member Of The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Creating An Expedited Pathway For Physicians In Other Compact States To Become Licensed In North Carolina. “On July 1, 2025, Governor Josh Stein signed into law House Bill 67 (Session Law 2025-37), an Act to Enact Healthcare Workforce Reforms for the State of North Carolina, which makes the most significant updates in years to how North Carolina licenses and regulates health care professionals. […] Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Effective January 1, 2026, North Carolina is authorized to join the large majority of other U.S. States in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. The Compact provides an expedited pathway for physicians in other Compact states to become licensed in North Carolina, and also provides a corresponding path for North Carolina-licensed physicians to become reciprocally licensed in other Compact states. To be eligible, a physician must have a full, unrestricted medical license in another Compact state, meet certain residency and practice requirements in their home state, and satisfy certain other requirements. Of North Carolina’s neighbors, Tennessee and Georgia are Compact members, but Virginia and South Carolina are not. North Carolina’s adoption of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact will provide physicians with a streamlined process for becoming licensed in multiple states, thereby enhancing the portability of a medical license and improving patient care and access. This will facilitate recruitment to practices and also provides a more ready opportunity for North Carolina physicians to move to other Compact states.” [Smith Anderson, 9/29/25]
• H.B. 67 Authorized North Carolina To Join The Physician Assistant Interstate Licensure Compact, Creating An Accelerated Pathway For Physician Assistant Licensure In North Carolina. “On July 1, 2025, Governor Josh Stein signed into law House Bill 67 (Session Law 2025-37), an Act to Enact Healthcare Workforce Reforms for the State of North Carolina, which makes the most significant updates in years to how North Carolina licenses and regulates health care professionals. […] Physician Assistant Interstate Licensure Compact. North Carolina’s adoption of a new Physician Assistant Licensure Compact similarly offers

accelerated pathways for physician assistant licensure in North Carolina and for North Carolina-licensed physician assistants to more easily practice in other Compact states. The law establishes a Licensure Compact Commission led by representatives from each Compact state to administer the Compact, as well as a coordinated data and reporting system to streamline licensure functions between Compact states. While theCompact [sic] will serve as an expedited alternative for licensure of physician assistants from Compact states, it will not replace existing licensure pathways in North Carolina. The effective date of this portion of the law is delayed pending the Compact becoming active in a sufficient number of states under the statute.” [Smith Anderson, 9/29/25]

Smith Anderson: H.B. 67 Was “Designed To Make It Easier To Bring Physicians, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists And Psychological Associates Into The Workforce” And “Could Help Ease Staffing Shortages, Expand Care Delivery And Reduce Administrative Hurdles”

Smith Anderson: H.B. 67 Was “Designed To Make It Easier To Bring Physicians, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists And Psychological Associates Into The Workforce.” “On July 1, 2025, Governor Josh Stein signed into law House Bill 67 (Session Law 2025-37), an Act to Enact Healthcare Workforce Reforms for the State of North Carolina, which makes the most significant updates in years to how North Carolina licenses and regulates health care professionals. The changes are designed to make it easier to bring physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists and psychological associates into the workforce, while also expanding what certain providers can do in practice. For health care organizations, especially rural practices, these reforms could help ease staffing shortages, expand care delivery and reduce administrative hurdles. Key Takeaways: Easier physician recruitment. North Carolina joins the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (effective Jan. 1, 2026), offering a fast-track for out-of-state physicians. Practice changes for physician assistants. North Carolina adopts a PA licensure compact and introduces ‘team-based practice’ options with reduced administrative requirements. New license for internationally-trained doctors. Rural practices and hospitals can hire physicians under a limited license that can convert to full licensure after four years. Expanded pharmacist authority. Clinical pharmacists may now order/administer certain tests and provide broader care under collaborative agreements. Increased independence for psychological associates. With enough supervised hours, psychological associates may practice without direct supervision.” [Smith Anderson, 9/29/25]

Smith Anderson: H.B. 67’s Reforms “Could Help Ease Staffing Shortages, Expand Care Delivery And Reduce Administrative Hurdles.” “On July 1, 2025, Governor Josh Stein signed into law House Bill 67 (Session Law 2025-37), an Act to Enact Healthcare Workforce Reforms for the State of North Carolina, which makes the most significant updates in years to how North Carolina licenses and regulates health care professionals. The changes are designed to make it easier to bring physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists and psychological associates into the workforce, while also expanding what certain providers can do in practice. For health care organizations, especially rural practices, these reforms could help ease staffing shortages, expand care delivery and reduce administrative hurdles. Key Takeaways: Easier physician recruitment. North Carolina joins the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (effective Jan. 1, 2026), offering a fast-track for out-of-state physicians. Practice changes for physician assistants. North Carolina adopts a PA licensure compact and introduces ‘team-based practice’ options with reduced administrative requirements. New license for internationally-trained doctors. Rural practices and hospitals can hire physicians under a limited license that can convert to full licensure after four years. Expanded pharmacist authority. Clinical pharmacists may now order/administer certain tests and provide broader care under collaborative agreements. Increased independence for psychological associates. With enough supervised hours, psychological associates may practice without direct supervision.” [Smith Anderson, 9/29/25]