The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission is now being established now that more than seven states have enacted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact into law, the Federation of State Medical Boards announced May 19. The commission will administer a new, streamlined process for physicians seeking to be licensed in multiple states participating in the compact.

Alabama became the seventh state to sign the compact into law on May 19, allowing the commission to be established, according to the Federation of State Medical Boards. In addition, the American Academy of Family Physicians reported Minnesota enacted the compact on May 19 and Nevada on May 27.

Other states that have formally enacted the compact include Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

“Now that seven states have enacted the Compact legislation, we can begin the real work of establishing the compact to ensure patients have access to quality healthcare services, while maintaining the highest level of patient protections,” said Larry Dixon, executive director, Alabama Board of Medical Examiners. “The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact will ease the physician shortage in rural and other underserved areas. We thank Governor Bentley and the state lawmakers for moving swiftly and prudently to establish a new era of care, patient protections and physician licensing.”

The commission will meet later this year to discuss management and administration.

However, the effort has received criticism.

“Expanding and promoting telemedicine, and expediting multi-state licensure can be better accomplished without the involvement of FSMB,” according to Paul Martin Kempen, M.D. “Its corporate interests conflict with the interests of physicians and patients in reducing costs and preserving the patient-physician relationship essential to good medicine.”