Newswise — WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2016) – New Hampshire and Arizona became the latest states to adopt the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact when legislation was signed into law by New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan on May 5 and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey on May 11. With the addition of New Hampshire and Arizona, 14 states have now adopted the Compact legislation to expand access to health care by expediting medical licensure. Compact legislation is also awaiting the signatures of the governors of Colorado, Kansas and Mississippi, whose Legislatures recently passed the legislation.
The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact offers an expedited licensing process for physicians interested in practicing medicine in multiple states. The Compact is expected to expand access to health care, especially to those in rural and underserved areas of the country, and facilitate the use of telemedicine technologies in the delivery of health care.
“New Hampshire’s participation in the Compact will bring many benefits, both for patients and the physicians who care for them,” said Sarah Blodgett, JD, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Board of Medicine. “Most importantly, the Compact’s streamlined licensing process will enable us to expand access to care – a priority for our state.”
“The Arizona Medical Board looks forward to working with the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission to establish procedures to effectively administer the Compact to provide another pathway to expeditiously license physicians,” said Patricia McSorley, JD, Executive Director of the Arizona Medical Board. “We are delighted to become a participant in the Compact,” added Jenna Jones, CPM, Executive Director of the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery. “As the sixth largest state in the United States in square miles, Arizona has a diverse patient population, many of whom live in distant or rural locations. The Compact will be a valuable resource in ensuring they receive quality health care.”
“On behalf of the Commission, I welcome New Hampshire and Arizona to the group of states that have joined the Compact,” said Ian Marquand, Chairperson of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission. “It’s an exciting time for the Commission as it continues its work and I look forward to seeing new faces at the table in the coming weeks.”
The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission is made up of two appointed Commissioners from each state that joins the Compact. The Compact empowers the Commission to administer the Compact, create bylaws and rules for its operation, and otherwise implement the expedited licensure of physicians as the Compact directs.
The Compact has been endorsed by a broad coalition of health care stakeholders, including the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
For more information about the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, please visit http://licenseportability.org/. To read the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact model legislation, click here.
About the Federation of State Medical BoardsThe Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) is a national non-profit organization representing all medical boards within the United States and its territories that license and discipline allopathic and osteopathic physicians and, in some jurisdictions, other health care professionals. The FSMB serves as the voice for state medical boards, supporting them through education, assessment, research and advocacy while providing services and initiatives that promote patient safety, quality health care and regulatory best practices. To learn more about FSMB, visit www.fsmb.org. You can also follow FSMB on Twitter (@theFSMB and @FSMBPolicy).
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