334.021. Reference to terms in prior laws, how construed--no hiring discrimination permitted based on medical degree held.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

334.021. Reference to terms in prior laws, how construed--no hiring discrimination permitted based on medical degree held.

Reference to terms in prior laws, how construed--no hiringdiscrimination permitted based on medical degree held.

334.021. 1. Where other statutes of this state use the terms"physician", "surgeon", "practitioner of medicine", "practitioner ofosteopathy", "board of medical examiners", or "board of osteopathicregistration and examination" or similar terms, they shall be construed tomean physicians and surgeons licensed under this chapter or the state boardof registration for the healing arts in the state of Missouri.

2. With the exception of section 197.700, RSMo, notwithstanding anyother provision of law, no health facility, health benefit plan, managedcare plan, or health carrier shall discriminate with respect to employment,staff, privileges, or the provision of professional services against aphysician licensed to practice the healing arts in this state on the basisof whether the physician holds a "medical doctor", "M.D." or "doctor ofosteopathy", "D.O." degree.

3. Any reference in an executive order, an administrative regulation,or in the Missouri revised statutes to "medical doctor", "M.D.", or"physician" shall be deemed to include a "doctor of osteopathy" or "D.O."unless any of those terms are specifically excluded by reference to thissection. Similarly, any reference to an "osteopath", "D.O." or "physician"shall be deemed to include a "medical doctor" or "M.D.", unless any ofthose terms are specifically excluded by reference to this section.Similarly, any reference to a specialist shall be deemed to include thosespecialists accredited by either the Accreditation Council for GraduateMedical Education or the American Osteopathic Association unlessspecifically excluded by reference to this section.

4. The provisions of subsection 3 of this section do not apply to themakeup of boards and commissions on which an unequal number of medicaldoctors or osteopaths serve.