Practicing medicine in Arizona without a license is against the law. But there are discrepancies in how complaints against impostors are handled, allowing some to continue practicing. House Bill 2118 would address the issue.
“To give all of the health boards clear instructions on how to deal with a complaint when they become aware that there is a person acting without statutory authority and licensure,” said Rep. Nancy Barto of District 15 who sponsored the bill.
Barto said she sponsored the bill after ABC 15’s in-depth investigation into more than 100 medical impostor practitioners across the state.
The bill would require medical boards to investigate complaints lodged against practitioners and continue to receive details from complainants, among other measures.
HB 2118 would also classify working as an unauthorized medical professional as a class five felony, so law enforcement can get involved if needed.
“To make sure that our public is well-informed and has the information accessible and available when they are trying to make decisions on who to see as a practitioner,” said Sen. Heather Carter about the objective of the bill during a hearing in the Health and Human Services Committee.
It would also require health boards to publish the details of unauthorized practitioners on their websites for a period of five years.
The bill passed the Senate Rules Committee and now heads to the floor.
