Government Getting in the Way of Healthcare for the Poor

Each state has their own medical license.  The original intention of a medical license was to protect patients from fraudulent “doctors” who may cause them harm or really had no training in a particular field.  To most North Carolinians, licensing isn’t an issue.  They live in North Carolina and they will see a NC-licensed doctor.  But what about medical service non-profits, who seek, without the help of government handouts, to provide quality healthcare to those less fortunate and indigent?

That remains a critical issue both in North Carolina and across the nation.  Is a New York doctor any better than a North Carolina doctor or vice versa?  Would a person rather receive no medical attention or get care( *gasp*) from an out-of-state volunteer provider?  I believe most would prefer to receive care, no matter where the doctor is licensed.

Last year, North Carolina successfully passed SB743, Encourage Volunteer Healthcare Providers, which allows doctors and PAs from out-of-state to provide medical services to indigent patients in NC. Unfortunately, dentists and vision care providers were not included, leaving North Carolina with an incomplete medical volunteer corp.  This national issue was highlighted recently in a compelling video.  Remote Area Medical’s founder, Stan Brock, speaks about the need for cross-border licensing provisions for volunteer operations.  Check it out!