By Melissa Wirkus Hagstrom, contributor Jul 27, 2020
The
skills and experience of physicians are needed in healthcare settings
throughout the United States, especially during this time of the global
coronavirus pandemic. Physicians are being called to cross state lines for
in-person care, and to practice telemedicine, which brings medical licensing
issues to the forefront.
Thankfully,
the ever-expanding Interstate
Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) is helping to streamline licensing for
multiple states and increase access to care.
The IMLC: What it is and how it works
The
IMLC is an agreement among participating U.S. states to provide a voluntary,
expedited pathway to multistate licensure for physicians who qualify.
“The
mission of the Compact is to increase access to health care – particularly for
patients in underserved or rural areas,” according to the IMLC website. “The
Compact makes it possible to extend the reach of physicians, improve access to
medical specialists, and leverage the use of new medical technologies, such as
telemedicine.”
The Compact
also strengthens public protection by enhancing the ability of states to share
investigative and disciplinary information.
As
of June 24, 2020, there are 27 states
currently participating in the IMLC, in addition to the territory of Guam; two
additional states and the District of Columbia have passed the legislation, but
it has yet to be implemented. The compact was a collaborative effort between multiple
state medical boards and governing bodies back in 2013, and after years of
legislation, it became active in April of 2017.
The IMLC also makes it easier for physicians to work short-term locum tenens
assignments, such as those offered by Staff Care.
Staff Care partners with every size and
type of healthcare facility to fill their staffing gaps, and they are currently
hiring for both traditional and crisis response assignments to support the fight
against COVID-19.
The IMLC doctor licensure compact is unique in that licenses are still issued
by individual states. Physicians fill out one application within the Compact;
once they receive a letter of qualification (LOQ) from their SPL, they can receive
separate licenses for each state in which they wish to practice. State
licensing fees are still required, but locum tenens agencies may cover these
fees for their physicians on assignment.
This
process streamlines state licensing significantly since everything is routed
through the Compact. Physicians receive their licenses faster and with fewer
burdens.
Who is eligible to participate in the
IMLC?
Prior
to applying, physicians must meet all of the eligibility requirements
that are defined by the IMLC:
Physicians must hold a full, unrestricted medical license in a Compact
member-state that can serve as a declared State of Principal License (SPL). In
order to designate a state as an SPL, physicians must ensure that at least ONE
of the following apply:
The physician’s primary
residence is in the SPL
At least 25% of the
physician’s practice of medicine occurs in the SPL
The physician is employed to
practice medicine by a person, business or organization located in the SPL
The physician uses the SPL as
his or her state of residence for federal income tax purposes.
There are other general eligibility requirements that must be met. According to
the IMLC, approximately 80 percent of U.S. physicians meet the criteria for
multistate licensure through the Compact.
If you are interested in using your skills and experience to help people across
the country, consider taking your career on the road as a Staff Care locum
tenens physician. With help from our recruiters and the IMLC, you can be on
your way to a new adventure.
Related: The
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact: Physician Compact Expanding in 2020
STAFF CARE has assignments for physicians and
advanced practitioners across the U.S., and can help with licensing, housing
and other needs.
Contact a Recruiter Now