Can the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Affect Telemedicine?
More medical practitioners are starting to understand the benefits of telemedicine. Despite its popularity, it still faces a number of challenges, including the existing medical licensure system. One of the reasons why telemedicine has become useful in the medical field is because it helps eliminate geographic barriers when it comes to providing care and service to patients. However, this will not really be achievable unless doctors can deliver their service across state lines.
Overcoming State Medical Licensing System’s Limitations
The medical credentialing system that we have today is used to ensure that healthcare providers meet an important set of standards. However, there are many cases where it would be much easier for medical professionals if the licensing requirements were standardized in all states throughout the country.
Telemedicine has indeed grown, which is why more healthcare providers, telemedicine companies, legislators and even patients have been trying to get past this issue. In recent years, there have been several bills related to telemedicine, including the Telehealth Promotion Act of 2015. [1] Other bills that have been proposed were the TELE-MED Act of 2013 and the VETS Act. All these bills aim to remove the geographic restrictions for providing telemedicine services. These bills can make it easier for doctors to give service to patients anywhere in the United States.
IMLC and Telemedicine
In breaking down the barriers relating to the geographical locations of patients and hospitals, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact is one of the proposed solutions for telemedicine. The IMLC aims to streamline various medical licensing processes so that healthcare providers can find it much easier to treat patients across different states.
In January 2017, there were already 18 states that enacted the laws, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho and Minnesota. Arkansas, Nebraska, Washington and North Dakota hope to participate in the IMLC.[3]
How IMLC Works
The IMLC is an agreement that is associated with the licensing procedure of medical practitioners across state lines. The role of IMLC is to create a faster pathway for state licensure so that experienced physicians can apply for and receive their licenses in other states where they are not licensed.
It is important for the state to join the compact first before it can approve or hand over licenses to physicians from another state. In order for a state to join, it should pass a bill first to authorize the state in participating. The governor of the state should sign it. [4]
With the help of the IMLC, the application process for healthcare providers in other states will become much easier. Processing is expedited, and there is less paperwork. However, the compact still requires the providers to obey the rules and standards of the state. There are basic requirements that a physician should meet before applying for the expedited licensure process. Here are some of them:
- You have a medical license in one of the states participating in the compact.
- You have received a specialty certification.
- You have passed the USMLE or the CMLEX.
- You have completed a GME program.
If you believe that you are eligible, you can proceed with your application. Once approved, you will receive the state licensure in the member state you are seeking licensure for. This allows you to participate in telemedicine across eligible state lines.
References:
[1] http://mss.fsmb.org/FSMBJournal/2014-V100_N2.pdf
[2] http://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20150601interstatelicense.html
[3] http://www.aappublications.org/news/2017/02/14/Licensure021417
[4] https://www.fsmb.org/Media/Default/PDF/Advocacy/Interstate%20Medical%20Licensure%20Compact%20(FINAL).pdf