Burton Law Firm, a personal injury law firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina, is highlighting a significant legislative development that could reshape how North Carolina residents access healthcare. Gov. Josh Stein recently signed House Bill 67, a healthcare workforce reform bill that addresses provider shortages and modernizes how physicians and physician assistants are licensed and able to practice across the state.
According to the North Carolina Medical Board, the new law creates licensure pathways for internationally trained physicians who hold full-time employment at licensed hospitals, a change that could bring more qualified providers into underserved communities. It also allows experienced physician assistants to participate in "team-based practices," where they can deliver care under physician supervision in a collaborative setting. Additionally, the law positions North Carolina to join the PA Licensure Compact, enabling physician assistants to practice across state lines in other member states.
"Legislation like this has a direct impact on the people who depend on them," said Jason M. Burton, founder of Burton Law Firm. "When access to qualified medical professionals improves, patients are more likely to receive timely diagnoses, better follow-up care, and stronger documentation of their injuries. For anyone dealing with the aftermath of a serious accident, that kind of access can make a real difference in both recovery and in the strength of a legal claim."
Burton, a fifth-generation trial lawyer, noted that his firm routinely works alongside medical professionals in building personal injury and wrongful death cases. Thorough and timely medical treatment is often central to establishing the full extent of a client's injuries, and gaps in care caused by provider shortages can create challenges that follow accident victims well beyond their initial recovery.
"We see firsthand how delays in treatment affect our clients, not just physically, but in terms of how their cases are evaluated by insurance companies," Burton added. "Anything that helps put more qualified providers in front of patients is a step in the right direction for North Carolina."
The healthcare workforce reforms are expected to take effect in stages, and Burton Law Firm encourages North Carolina residents to stay informed as the new provisions are implemented.
