Profession
New Nebraska doctors to be fingerprinted
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 18, 2005
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has signed a law that requires criminal background checks of doctors seeking medical licenses in the state.
The Nebraska State Patrol will fingerprint physicians and submit the prints to the FBI for a national criminal history check. Applicants must pay the $33 cost of the process and authorize release of the background check to the state's Dept. of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure.
At least 19 states have laws that allow state medical boards to conduct fingerprint and criminal background checks of medical license applicants. While some states routinely fingerprint and investigate all new applicants, others only conduct reviews when an application raises suspicion.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/04/18/prbf0418.htm.












