The Senate Health and Human Services Committee Unanimously Advances Legislation to Expand Physician Licensing

Atlanta, GA  – The LIBRE Initiative, the nation’s largest center-right Latino organization, testified in support of Senate Bill 427 at the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. LIBRE Georgia, Strategic Director Stefanie Zaenker, explained the importance of the legislation and its aim to create a pathway for internationally trained physicians to practice medicine in Georgia.

SB 427 would allow lawfully present, foreign-trained physicians to practice in Georgia if they meet a comprehensive set of requirements, with a focus on placing doctors in medically underserved communities.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Ben Watson (R–Savannah), a physician and chairman of the committee.

During the hearing, LIBRE’s Strategic Director, Stefanie Zaenker, highlighted the immediate impact the bill could have on access to care mentioned in HealthBeat Atlanta:

“Many immigrant physicians are already here. They’re trained, they’re experienced, and they’re ready to work,” said Stefanie Zaenker, strategic director of The LIBRE Initiative, a free market advocacy group focused on the Latino community.

These doctors bring critical language skills and cultural understanding to underserved Latino communities and other minority communities, which improves trust, communication, and health outcomes.”

If enacted, Georgia would join a growing number of states that have adopted similar policies to expand healthcare access, including Tennessee, Florida, and North Carolina, whose law took effect earlier this year. According to the American Medical Association, at least 17 states have moved forward with comparable reforms.

SB 427 now moves forward in the legislative process as lawmakers continue efforts to strengthen Georgia’s healthcare workforce and expand access to care in underserved areas.

ABOUT LIBRE:

The LIBRE Initiative is a non-partisan, non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to empowering the U.S. Hispanic community. We focus on promoting economic freedom, educational opportunities, and a path to prosperity for all. By advocating for policy changes at both the local and national levels, we aim to ensure that the American Dream remains attainable for everyone.