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Legislators in nine states have introduced legislation that would expand the practice of telemedicine by streamlining physician licensure.
Lawmakers in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming have proposed bills based on the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. This model bill was crafted by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) in an effort to speed the process of issuing licenses for physicians who wish to practice across state lines
The compact offers an effective solution to balancing patient safety and quality care with the needs of a growing and changing health care market, Dr. Humayun J. Chaudhry, president and CEO of FSMB said in a statement. “The growing number of introductions in state legislatures represents the desire for a dynamic system of expedited licensure that simultaneously respects the inherent role of state regulatory agencies in protecting the public,” Dr. Chaudhry said. “At a time when some within the telemedicine industry seek to implement licensing frameworks that undermine and circumvent state licensing rules and practice requirements, the compact is a key element to ensuring state sovereignty while providing the license portability necessary to enhance the delivery of health care.”
Dr. Humayun J. Chaudhry
The FSMB House of Delegates unanimously approved the development of an interstate compact to expedite medical licensure and facilitate multistate practice at its 2013 annual meeting. Under the proposed system, states and doctors would voluntarily enter into the compact, and approved physicians would be under the jurisdiction of the state medical board in which the patient is located at the time of the medical interaction.
State boards of medicine would retain their individual authority for discipline and oversight, according to the compact. Interested physicians would also need to complete a background check including biometric data (such as fingerprints) and pass all components of either the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medicine Licensing Examination within three attempts.
More than 25 medical and osteopathic boards have publicly expressed support for the model legislation, according to the FSMB.
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