The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) is now active in more than half of U.S. states after Kentucky and North Dakota recently enacted legislation to join the Compact.
In 2017, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact officially began accepting applications from qualified physicians who wished to obtain multiple licenses from participating states. The Compact has been expected to expand access to healthcare, especially to those in rural and underserved areas of the country, and facilitate the use of telemedicine technologies in the delivery of healthcare.
Licensing providers across state lines has long been a challenge, as clinicians who want to treat patients in another state have historically had to apply for and pay for licenses in those states—a costly and time-consuming process. Some state boards have also sought to prevent or limit the expansion of telehealth, citing patient safety concerns.
But as of March 31, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission has processed 3,314 applications resulting in 5,450 medical licenses. Kentucky and North Dakota have become the 26th and 27th states to join the Compact, respectively.
The following jurisdictions are now IMLC members: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The initiative remains under consideration in Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
