(a) Each person licensed to practice medicine in this state shall, pursuant to the renewal system established in subsection (b), biennially apply to the board for a renewal of licensure and shall pay a renewal fee as set by the board. Each application shall be made on a form to be furnished by the board and sent to the licensee well in advance of the scheduled renewal date. The board shall, in its discretion, absent receipt of derogatory information, renew licensure upon application made in due form and upon payment of all required fees and shall issue a new biennial registration certificate.

(b)

(1) There is hereby authorized the establishment of a system of license renewals at alternative intervals that will allow for the distribution of the license workload as uniformly as is practicable throughout the calendar year. Licenses issued under this renewal system are valid for twenty-four (24) months and shall expire on the last day of the last month of the license period. However, during any transition period, or at any time thereafter when the board shall determine that the volume of work for any given interval is unduly burdensome or costly, either the licenses or renewals, or both, may be issued for terms of not less than six (6) months nor more than eighteen (18) months. The fee imposed for any license under any renewal system for a period of other than twenty-four (24) months shall be proportionate to the biennial fee and modified in no other manner, except that the proportional fee shall be rounded off to the nearest quarter of a dollar (25¢).

(2) A licensee may renew a license within sixty (60) days following the license expiration date upon payment of the renewal fee in addition to a late penalty established by the board for each month or fraction of a month that payment for renewal is late; provided that the late penalty shall not exceed twice the renewal fee. When any licensee fails to renew a license and pay the biennial renewal fee within sixty (60) days after renewal becomes due, as provided in this section, the license shall be automatically revoked at the expiration of sixty (60) days after the renewal was required without further notice or hearing.

(c) Any licensee whose license is automatically revoked as provided in subsection (b), may apply in writing to the board for reinstatement of such license, which may be granted by the board upon the payment of all past due fees and reinstatement fees established by the board, and upon further conditions as the board may require.

(d) Any person licensed to practice by this chapter who has retired or may hereafter retire from practice in this state shall not be made to register as required by this chapter if such person shall file with this board an affidavit of retirement form furnished by the board. The affidavit shall state the date on which the person retired from practice and such other facts as shall tend to verify such retirement as the board shall deem necessary. If the person thereafter wishes to reenter practice in this state, the person shall apply for licensure reactivation with the board, pay a reactivation fee as set by the board and shall meet such other reasonable requirements as may be deemed necessary by the board.

(e) The board shall have the authority to create a renewable inactive licensure status as it deems appropriate upon payment of an appropriate fee assessment and compliance with the requirements established by the board for those licensees who actively practice medicine in a state other than Tennessee.

(f) In order to ensure that the board has the most recent and accurate data on licensees and applicants for licensure within this state, the board shall cooperate with the Tennessee Medical Association by comparing and sharing computer data bases and other physician identification file information, including, without limitation, license numbers, medical education numbers, social security numbers, home and business address information and any other data of a similar, nonconfidential nature, for a reasonable charge.