Senator files bills to improve health care services access, availability

Sen. Nitza Morán Trinidad

By THE STAR STAFF

Sen. Nitza Morán Trinidad, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, Banking, Commerce, Insurance, and Cooperativism, has introduced a legislative package aimed at creating a more accessible, equitable and respectful healthcare system in Puerto Rico -- one that upholds patients’ rights and safeguards the clinical judgment of healthcare professionals.

Among the proposed measures is a bill to amend Act 139-2008, known as the “Medical Licensing and Disciplinary Board Act.” The amendment would streamline the process for granting provisional licenses to physicians and osteopaths who are already licensed in other U.S. jurisdictions or who possess internationally recognized scientific credentials. Such professionals would be allowed to practice in Puerto Rico while completing the requirements for full licensure. Morán emphasized that the initiative is a direct response to the island’s ongoing physician shortage and aims to reinforce the healthcare system during critical times.

In addition, the senator filed Senate Resolution 341, which calls for an investigation into the implementation and current status of Law 142-2020. The law protects the medical judgment of physicians in prescribing treatments and guarantees patients immediate access to prescribed medications, even while insurers conduct reviews or appeals. The resolution also seeks to evaluate the impact of the law’s partial repeal under the federal Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) oversight framework and to explore legislative alternatives to preserve the protections.

Morán also introduced Senate Resolution 342, which seeks to determine whether health insurers under the government’s Vital Plan are complying with Law 28-2024. That law eliminated the requirement for primary care referrals for patients diagnosed with chronic or high-cost conditions. The resolution aims to identify whether patients are still facing administrative hurdles that delay access to specialized care.

“Our duty is to ensure that public policy is implemented on the streets, not just on paper,” said the District 1 (San Juan, Aguas Buenas and Guaynabo) senator. “These measures respond to real demands from patients, doctors, and families. Puerto Rico needs a flexible, accessible, and fair healthcare system, where medical judgment prevails over bureaucracy.”