Newswise — WASHINGTON – With the recent enactment of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators sent a letter to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), applauding state medical and osteopathic boards on the progress they have made in implementing an Interstate Compact to support medical license portability and expanding access to care.
Signed by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), John Thune (R-SD) and 11 other Senators, the letter praises states for moving swiftly and efficiently to implement a Compact that will streamline the licensing process for physicians who wish to practice in multiple states. The letter further encourages the FSMB to continue working with additional states and the medical board community to promote participation in the Compact.
“As strong supporters of the state-based system of physician licensure, we believe the Compact represents a significant step forward in the licensure of physicians and we applaud the work of the FSMB and its member boards in this area,” write the lawmakers. “In the coming months, we encourage you to continue to work with your member medical boards and states to consider participation in the Compact, which will simultaneously facilitate multistate practice while ensuring states’ ability to regulate medicine and ensure patient safety.”
The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact establishes a voluntary pathway that will significantly streamline the licensing process for physicians seeking to practice medicine in Compact states, while maintaining the state regulatory oversight and protections necessary for patient safety. With the enactment of the Compact, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission, established within the Compact model legislation, will meet in late October to discuss the management and administration of the Compact.
Additional U.S. Senators joining Sens. Barrasso and Thune in signing the letter include:
• Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)• Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS)• Senator Steve Daines (R-MT)• Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY)• Senator James Inhofe (R-OK)• Senator James Lankford (R-OK)• Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)• Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV)• Senator Jon Tester (D-MT)• Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)• Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS)
To read the full text of the letter, visit: http://www.fsmb.org/Media/Default/PDF/Publications/Senate_Letter_Sept2015.pdf
For more information about the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, visit: http://licenseportability.org/
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