The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated states getting physicians to hospitals as quickly as possible to help patients and assist full-time, permanent staff. For this reason, many states chose to temporarily reduce and, in some cases, even eliminate in-state licensing requirements and accept any state’s medical license to speed up the process.
Many states realize the value of accessible interstate licensing during the pandemic
These changes mirror a licensing solution that has existed for the past six years, which became operational four years ago, called the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), "an agreement among participating U.S. states to work together to significantly streamline the licensing process for physicians who want to practice in multiple states." The IMLC helps improve access to care for patients and access to licensure for qualifying physicians.
Now that so many states and healthcare facilities across the country have realized the benefits of making multi-state licensing more accessible for clinicians, many working in healthcare are wondering what the future looks like for the IMLC. Currently, 33 states, the District of Columbia and the Territory of Guam are Compact member jurisdictions, with Ohio being the most recent state to join the Compact. But before looking ahead at what the future holds, it is important to understand what exactly the Compact is and how physicians can take advantage of it right now.
About the author
Brittany Griffith
Vice President, CVO/Licensing
Brittany joined LocumTenens.com in 2015 as a CVO Director. With a strong and extensive background in credentialing, privileging, risk management and NCQA, she was quickly promoted to Associate Vice President in 2017 and now serves as Vice President of the CVO and Licensing teams. Brittany is skilled in driving customer service improvements, increasing productivity and improving quality in a fast-paced environment. Prior to joining LocumTenens.com, Brittany worked for a non-profit for Multiple Sclerosis and taught English in South Korea. She eventually found a path to credentialing and has spent the last 10 years working within CVOs. Brittany graduated Magna Cum Laude from Southern Polytechnic State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Operations and Technology Management.