Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission now accepting physician applications

Last week, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission officially began accepting applications from qualified physicians who wish to obtain medical licenses in multiple states, according to an announcement from the Federation of State Medical Boards.

So far, 18 states have adopted the compact and eight others, along with the District of Columbia, have introduced legislation to allow for expedited licensure through the process.

Five years in the making, the compact was created to streamline the process for securing medical licenses in multiple states, and by extension, to address escalating physician shortages and increasing interest in telemedicine.

“The launch of the compact will empower interested and eligible physicians to deliver high-quality care across state lines to reach more patients in rural and underserved communities," FSMB President and CEO Humayun Chaudhry, DO, said in the announcement. “This is a major win for patient safety and an achievement that will lessen the burden being felt nationwide as a result of our country’s physician shortage.”

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact offers an alternative pathway for licensing eligible physicians who wish to practice in multiple states by allowing participating states to share credentialing information. Through the compact, physicians do not have to submit a separate application for each state, as is the traditional process.

There are many reasons why physicians might want to practice in multiple states. They may be part of large integrated health systems, for example, or live near the border of another state. Advancements in technology have also made telemedicine more feasible. For several years, state medical boards have been exploring options to increase license portability so that physicians would only have to be primary-source credentialed once, rather than having to repeat the process for every state they wish to practice in.

Click here for more information about the latest compact developments, including physician eligibility requirements and a rundown of the application process.