Michigan Legislature Passes Bill to Renew Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Preserving Access for 8,000 Physicians

Michigan Legislature Passes Bill to Renew Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Preserving Access for 8,000 Physicians

LANSING — The Michigan House and Senate have passed legislation to renew the state's participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, a program that has enabled approximately 8,000 out-of-state physicians to treat patients in Michigan. The bipartisan legislation now heads to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's desk for signature.

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which Michigan joined in 2019, had been stalled for months to renew the state's place in the program before an expiration deadline. Without the legislation, roughly 8,000 physicians who rely on the compact could have lost their ability to legally practice medicine in Michigan.

Dr. Mark Smith, chief medical officer at Michigan State University Health Care, previously told News 10 that the impact on patients would be significant if the legislation was not passed. According to Smith, the expiration would have affected approximately 100,000 patient visits per day, including those who require specialized care such as remote radiology services.

The compact aims to address physician shortages and ensure patients receive necessary care by streamlining the licensing process for qualified doctors. Since Michigan joined the compact in 2019, thousands of out-of-state physicians have obtained Michigan licensure while Michigan-based physicians have used the compact to provide care to patients outside the state.

According to data from the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, more than 5,000 physicians — roughly one-third of Michigan's physician workforce — would lose their compact-based authority to practice if lawmakers do not act quickly to pass legislation to maintain membership in the program.

The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Rylee Linting (R-Grosse Ile Township) and passed through the Michigan Senate on March 24. Following negotiations finalized on March 19, the Michigan Senate passed the bill on a 31-0 margin, with six members excused.

The bill now heads to Governor Whitmer's desk for signature. The Michigan Health and Hospital Association thanked state lawmakers for their commitment to pass the bill and transmit it to the governor before the March 28 deadline.

The compact supports access to care in high-demand specialties such as emergency medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and primary care. For many hospitals, particularly those serving rural or border communities, the compact provides access to additional medical talent.

Beyond patient care, maintaining membership in the compact has important financial implications for the state. The Rural Health Transformation Program has emphasized encouraging participation in compacts, including the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. If Michigan withdraws from the compact, it could result in the state losing ground when competing for millions of dollars in funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program.

The compact streamlines the licensing process for qualified physicians, strengthening Michigan's ability to recruit talent and fill critical staffing gaps while maintaining patient safety standards and regulatory oversight. For many hospitals, particularly those serving rural or border communities, the compact supports access to care in high-demand specialties such as emergency medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and primary care.

As lawmakers consider next steps, preserving tools that support workforce flexibility and protect access to timely care remains a priority. The compact represents an important resource for Michigan's healthcare system, particularly as the state continues to face physician shortages in certain specialties and communities.