A Missouri House bill aims to streamline the process for out-of-state physicians to practice in the state, the Columbia Missourian reported Jan. 31.
The bill would establish Missouri as a member of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, an agreement that allows states to work together and streamline the licensing process for physicians who want to practice in multiple states.
"It helps Missourians have access to healthcare by allowing our potential Kansas and Illinois physicians to practice, and it helps our overwhelmed and understaffed hospitals with recruitment," bill sponsor and committee Chairman Rep. Jeff Coleman said in the report.
Currently, the licensing process takes months. By joining the compact, Missouri could issue licensing within seven to 10 days of the request, according to Marschall Smith, executive director of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission.