Louisiana just became the 30th state to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), along with the District of Columbia and Guam. The IMLC provides a voluntary expedited pathway to licensure for qualified physicians who want to practice in multiple states. Under this agreement, licensed physicians can qualify to practice medicine across state lines within the Compact if they meet agreed-upon eligibility requirements.
Why is this important? Physician licensure is a key consideration for telemedicine; providers must be licensed to practice in the state where the patient is located at the time of the telemedicine visit. During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), the Department of Health and Human Services issued a regulation allowing Medicare coverage for services provided by doctors and medical professionals operating across state lines. However, state laws on professional licensure must still be met, although many states have waived or eased licensure rules for telehealth during the PHE. The Federation of State Medical Boards provides updated information for those states that have modified or waived licensing requirements for telemedicine.
However, most of these waivers are temporary and only last until the end of the PHE. So, if you practice in one state but see patients via telemedicine in another state, you may want to explore licensure in multiple states. Check out the IMLC to see if the state(s) you are interested in participate. You may find a faster way to get licensed – and to expand your telemedicine practice!
For more information on implementing and optimizing telemedicine in your allergy/immunology practice, check out the College’s Telemedicine Toolkit.
