This study examines the implications of, and health interest groups responses to federally developed national standards for physician licensure, contained in the proposed Health Security Act (HSA). The Act was introduced into the United States Congress in 1975 by Senator Kennedy and Congressman Corman. While the legislation was withdrawn from Congressional consideration in 1979, it was unique, offering a comprehensive range of health services to the public with significant implications for changes in the way health care would be delivered and paid for. The Act's physician licensure provisions were a significant attempt to divest states and health interest groups of their control over health manpower (e.g. determination of minimum competency levels, supply levels, and restrictions on services offered by other health professionals.) The study critiques the Act's physician licensure provisions in a number of ways: it reviews the past and current structures and processes for determining physician licensure; analyzes the interplay between medical interest groups in assuring quality medical care; details the Act's physician licensure provisions; surveys health interest groups concerning their perceptions on physician licensure and the Act's proposed licensure provisions; and, concludes with reasons why the Act failed as well as alternative approaches it could have taken. / Medicine, Faculty of / Population and Public Health (SPPH), School of / Graduate