PA doctors get break from cash-flush license agency

(Harrisburg) -- Pennsylvania doctors are getting some good news when they attempt to renew their two-year state licenses.

A spokesman for the Department of State says the State Board of Medicine voted earlier this year to waive the $360 cost for medical doctors.

Ron Ruman says the board currently has about $30 million in the bank, which is more than four times its $7 million-a-year budget.

The money pays to investigate complaints and take disciplinary action. It's also used to develop new regulations and administer the board itself.

The deadline to renew for 2013 and 2014 is the end of December.

Ruman says state law prevents surplus money in that account from being used for other purposes by state government, which is currently in the midst of a several-year budget crunch.