Under IC 4-22-2-24, notice is hereby given that on March 27, 2008, at 8:30 a.m., at the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Indiana Government Center-South, 402 West Washington Street, Room W064, Indianapolis, Indiana, the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana will hold a public hearing on amending 844 IAC 4-4.5-12 to increase from seven to 10 the number of years allowed in which to pass all three steps of the USMLE and to decrease the number of attempts from five to three for each step.

Under the authority of IC 25-22.5-2-7, the Board has determined that the current requirements under 844 IAC 4-4.5-12 should be modified to:

1. allow for a 10 year window in which to pass all three attempts. Previous application of this rule has been determined to have barred otherwise qualified candidates from receiving licensure. By extending the length of time, it would allow those candidates the opportunity to enter the practice of medicine and assist Indiana patients without compromising patient safety; and

2. the Board has determined that three attempts at each step of the USMLE is adequate to meet the minimum requirements of licensure.

Copies of these rules are now on file at the Indiana Government Center-South, 402 West Washington Street, Room W072 and Legislative Services Agency, One North Capitol, Suite 325, Indianapolis, Indiana and are open for public inspection.