Question of the Week

Question: Our hospital has a clinic located near a military base and we would like to approach the military physicians that are stationed at the base hospital to “moonlight” at the clinic.  Can the military physicians “moonlight” at the clinic?

Answer: It depends.  There is a federal law, 10 U.S.C. §1094(d) which in general states that a military physician is authorized to practice in any facility, civilian or military, located in any state, territory or possession of the United States, as long as the military physician (1) has a current license to practice from any state, and (2) is performing duties authorized by the Department of Defense.  Therefore, the key is for a hospital to enter into an agreement with the federal government and for the physicians to have orders issued that authorize them to perform duties at the clinic.