In May, Alabama and Minnesota joined the other states that have passed legislation to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. The compact is designed to facilitate a speedier process with fewer administrative burdens for physicians seeking licensure in multiple states.  The requisite number of states to launch the compact have now joined, so the work to create an interstate commission that will oversee the compact will now begin.  The new licensure process is planned as follows:

• The eligible physician designates a member state as his or her state of principal licensure and selects other member states in which he or she desires a medical license.
• The state of principal licensure verifies the physician’s eligibility and provides credential information to the interstate commission.
• The commission collects applicable fees and transmits the physician’s information and licensure fees to the additional state medical boards.
• Upon receipt by the additional state medical boards, the boards will grant the physician a license.

The commission also will create and enforce rules governing this process, but will not have authority over a state’s medical practice act. Each state participating in the compact will have two representatives on the commission.  The AMA endorsed the compact—an initiative of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)—in November.  Key principles include:

• The practice of medicine is defined as taking place where the patient receives care, requiring the physician to be licensed in that state and under the jurisdiction of that state’s medical board.
• Regulatory authority will remain with the participating state medical boards.
• Participation in the compact is voluntary for both physicians and state boards of medicine.

SB252, Interstate Medical Licensure Compact was introduced in Maryland this year, but received an unfavorable report.  For more information, visit the AMA Web page on telemedicine.

From May 19 AMA Wire post

[An April 30 AMA Wire post answers several questions related to telemedicine.]