I had a cousin’s husband die of ALS. He lived over a decade following his diagnosis as his wife, my cousin, was a NICU RN and savvy with patient care. She also got him into a clinical trial that was so successful they converted the control group to receive the infusions as well. But when the final trial closed, the drug was still unapproved and there was no way of getting additional infusions. His condition deteriorated rapidly and he’s not with us anymore. The maddening apathy to terminal patients is confounding. All forms of treatment and palliative care should be available to anyone with a terminal illness. It’s the best and most ethical research opportunity. And it doesn’t steal potential cures from desperate patients.
This is why I think a national license would solve a lot of problems, even if it was a provisional one. For example, states have varying prescription laws, maybe holding a national license allows you to see patients but not prescribe certain classes of drugs. Then you’d need another state specific license for expanded prescribing within the state. Ultimately, I think a national license alone would be better for patients and doctors both. Multiple state licenses are wildly expensive to keep up and credentialing limits job mobility significantly.
Yes, I agree, and in fact I paused the video to leave a comment before hearing you make that exact point later. :)
National medical licensure makes so much sense. My wife is a nurse practitioner, and we have moved between states -- the amount of bureaucracy and rigmarole is just silly. Human biology and medicine work EXACTLY the same when you cross state lines.
Stuart, it was great meeting you too! But let’s not be hasty, people are built different in New Jersey (sorry, Jersey!). The compact state licenses are a small step in the right direction at least. I think wrestling away the $$$ made by each state licensing boards will be one challenge, among many.
Bess, I have heard of a workaround the out of state telemedicine regulations by registering with a tribal band. I know of one physician doing this but I would not like to share his name for his protection. However, he did mention this strategy at a presentation viewed by several hundred people.
I had a cousin’s husband die of ALS. He lived over a decade following his diagnosis as his wife, my cousin, was a NICU RN and savvy with patient care. She also got him into a clinical trial that was so successful they converted the control group to receive the infusions as well. But when the final trial closed, the drug was still unapproved and there was no way of getting additional infusions. His condition deteriorated rapidly and he’s not with us anymore. The maddening apathy to terminal patients is confounding. All forms of treatment and palliative care should be available to anyone with a terminal illness. It’s the best and most ethical research opportunity. And it doesn’t steal potential cures from desperate patients.
Insightful. Glad you are doing more of these.
As to telehealth across state lines, that seems to be a state issue: https://reason.org/policy-brief/grading-every-states-telehealth-laws/
This is why I think a national license would solve a lot of problems, even if it was a provisional one. For example, states have varying prescription laws, maybe holding a national license allows you to see patients but not prescribe certain classes of drugs. Then you’d need another state specific license for expanded prescribing within the state. Ultimately, I think a national license alone would be better for patients and doctors both. Multiple state licenses are wildly expensive to keep up and credentialing limits job mobility significantly.
Hi Bess! Great to meet you at Manifest.
Yes, I agree, and in fact I paused the video to leave a comment before hearing you make that exact point later. :)
National medical licensure makes so much sense. My wife is a nurse practitioner, and we have moved between states -- the amount of bureaucracy and rigmarole is just silly. Human biology and medicine work EXACTLY the same when you cross state lines.
Stuart, it was great meeting you too! But let’s not be hasty, people are built different in New Jersey (sorry, Jersey!). The compact state licenses are a small step in the right direction at least. I think wrestling away the $$$ made by each state licensing boards will be one challenge, among many.
Bess, I have heard of a workaround the out of state telemedicine regulations by registering with a tribal band. I know of one physician doing this but I would not like to share his name for his protection. However, he did mention this strategy at a presentation viewed by several hundred people.