Source: https://wvbom.wv.gov/InterstateMedLicCompact.asp
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 19:53:14+00:00

Document:
In order to strengthen access to health care, and in recognition of the advances in the delivery of health care, the member states of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact have allied in common purpose to develop a comprehensive process that complements the existing licensing and regulatory authority of state medical boards, provides a streamlined process that allows physicians to become licensed in multiple states, thereby enhancing the portability of a medical license and ensuring the safety of patients. The Compact creates another pathway for licensure and does not otherwise change a state's existing medical practice statutes. The Compact also adopts the prevailing standard for licensure and affirms that the practice of medicine occurs where the patient is located at the time of the physician-patient encounter, and therefore, requires the physician to be under the jurisdiction of the state medical board where the patient is located. State medical boards that participate in the Compact retain the jurisdiction to impose an adverse action against a license to practice medicine in that state issued to a physician through the procedures in the Compact.
(a) "Bylaws" means those bylaws established by the Interstate Commission pursuant to section eleven of this article for its governance, or for directing and controlling its actions and conduct.
(b) "Commissioner" means the voting representative appointed by each member board pursuant to section eleven of this article.
(c) "Compact" means the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.
(d) "Conviction" means a finding by a court that an individual is guilty of a criminal offense through adjudication, or entry of a plea of guilt or no contest to the charge by the offender. Evidence of an entry of a conviction of a criminal offense by the court shall be considered final for purposes of disciplinary action by a member board.
(e) "Expedited License" means a full and unrestricted medical license granted by a member state to an eligible physician through the process set forth in the Compact.
(f) "Interstate Commission" means the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission created pursuant to section eleven of this article.
(g) "License" means authorization by a state for a physician to engage in the practice of medicine, which would be unlawful without the authorization.
(h) "Medical Practice Act" means laws and regulations governing the practice of allopathic and osteopathic medicine within a member state.
(i) "Member Board" means a state agency in a member state that acts in the sovereign interests of the state by protecting the public through licensure, regulation, and education of physicians as directed by the state government.
(j) "Member State" means a state that has enacted the Compact.
(k) "Practice of Medicine" means the clinical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of human disease, injury, or condition requiring a physician to obtain and maintain a license in compliance with the Medical Practice Act of a member state.
(9) Is not under active investigation by a licensing agency or law-enforcement authority in any state, federal, or foreign jurisdiction.
(m) "Offense" means a felony, gross misdemeanor, or crime of moral turpitude.
(n) "Rule" means a written statement by the Interstate Commission promulgated pursuant to section twelve of this article that is of general applicability, implements, interprets, or prescribes a policy or provision of the Compact, or an organizational, procedural, or practice requirement of the Interstate Commission, and has the force and effect of statutory law in a member state, and includes the amendment, repeal, or suspension of an existing rule.
(o) "State" means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States.
(p) "State of Principal License" means a member state where a physician holds a license to practice medicine and which has been designated as such by the physician for purposes of registration and participation in the Compact.
(a) A physician must meet the eligibility requirements as defined in section two, subsection (l) of this article to receive an expedited license under the terms and provisions of the Compact.
(b) A physician who does not meet the requirements of section two of this article may obtain a license to practice medicine in a member state if the individual complies with all laws and requirements, other than the Compact, relating to the issuance of a license to practice medicine in that state.
§30-1C-4. Designation of state of principal license.
(4) If no state qualifies under subdivision (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection, the state designated as state of residence for purpose of federal income tax.
(b) A physician may redesignate a member state as state of principal license at any time, as long as the state meets the requirements in subsection (a) of this section.
§30-1C-5. Application and issuance of expedited licensure.
(a) A physician seeking licensure through the Compact shall file an application for an expedited license with the member board of the state selected by the physician as the state of principal license. (b) Upon receipt of an application for an expedited license, the member board within the state selected as the state of principal license shall evaluate whether the physician is eligible for expedited licensure and issue a letter of qualification, verifying or denying the physician's eligibility, to the Interstate Commission.
(2) The member board within the state selected as the state of principal license shall, in the course of verifying eligibility, perform a criminal background check of an applicant, including the use of the results of fingerprint or other biometric data checks compliant with the requirements of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the exception of federal employees who have suitability determination in accordance with 5 C.F.R. §731.202.
(c) Upon verification in subsection (b) of this section, physicians eligible for an expedited license shall complete the registration process established by the Interstate Commission to receive a license in a member state selected pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, including the payment of any applicable fees.
(d) After receiving verification of eligibility under subsection (b) of this section and any fees under subsection (c) of this section, a member board shall issue an expedited license to the physician. This license shall authorize the physician to practice medicine in the issuing state consistent with the Medical Practice Act and all applicable laws and regulations of the issuing member board and member state.
§30-1C-6. Fees for expedited licensure.
(a) A member state issuing an expedited license authorizing the practice of medicine in that state may impose a fee for a license issued or renewed through the Compact.
§30-1C-7. Renewal and continued participation.
(d) Upon receipt of any renewal fees collected in subsection (c) of this section, a member board shall renew the physician's license.
(a) The Interstate Commission shall establish a database of all physicians licensed, or who have applied for licensure, under section five of this article.
(d) Member boards may report any nonpublic complaint, disciplinary, or investigatory information not required by subsection (c) of this section to the Interstate Commission.
(b) If a license granted to a physician by the member board in the state of principal license is revoked, surrendered or relinquished in lieu of discipline, or suspended, then all licenses issued to the physician by member boards shall automatically be placed, without further action necessary by any member board, on the same status. If the member board in the state of principal license subsequently reinstates the physician's license, a licensed issued to the physician by any other member board shall remain encumbered until that respective member board takes action to reinstate the license in a manner consistent with the Medical Practice Act of that state.
(ii) Pursue separate disciplinary action against the physician under its respective Medical Practice Act, regardless of the action taken in other member states.
(d) If a license granted to a physician by a member board is revoked, surrendered or relinquished in lieu of discipline, or suspended, then any licenses issued to the physician by any other member boards shall be suspended, automatically and immediately without further action necessary by the other member boards, for ninety days upon entry of the order by the disciplining board, to permit the member boards to investigate the basis for the action under the Medical Practice Act of that state. A member board may terminate the automatic suspension of the license it issued prior to the completion of the ninety day suspension period in a manner consistent with the Medical Practice Act of that state.
§30-1C-11. Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission.
(a) The member states hereby create the "Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission".
(3) Member of the public appointed to a member board.
(g) Each Commissioner participating at a meeting of the Interstate Commission is entitled to one vote. A majority of Commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum is required by the bylaws of the Interstate Commission. A Commissioner shall not delegate a vote to another Commissioner. In the absence of its Commissioner, a member state may delegate voting authority for a specified meeting to another person from that state who shall meet the requirements of subsection (d) of this section.
§30-1C-12. Powers and duties of the Interstate Commission.
§30-1C-14. Organization and operation of the Interstate Commission.
(a) The Interstate Commission shall, by a majority of Commissioners present and voting, adopt bylaws to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Compact within twelve months of the first Interstate Commission meeting.
(b) The Interstate Commission shall elect or appoint annually from among its Commissioners a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and a treasurer, each of whom shall have such authority and duties as may be specified in the bylaws. The chairperson, or in the chairperson's absence or disability, the vice-chairperson, shall preside at all meetings of the Interstate Commission.
(c) Officers selected in subsection (b) of this section shall serve without remuneration from the Interstate Commission.
(d) The officers and employees of the Interstate Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for a claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused or arising out of, or relating to, an actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred, within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided that such person shall not be protected from suit or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such person.
(1) The liability of the executive director and employees of the Interstate Commission or representatives of the Interstate Commission, acting within the scope of such person's employment or duties for acts, errors, or omissions occurring within such person's state, may not exceed the limits of liability set forth under the Constitution and laws of that state for state officials, employees, and agents. The Interstate Commission is considered to be an instrumentality of the states for the purposes of any such action. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to protect such person from suit or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such person.
(2) The Interstate Commission shall defend the executive director, its employees, and subject to the approval of the Attorney General or other appropriate legal counsel of the member state represented by an Interstate Commission representative, shall defend such Interstate Commission representative in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of an actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the defendant had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such person.
(3) To the extent not covered by the state involved, member state, or the Interstate Commission, the representatives or employees of the Interstate Commission shall be held harmless in the amount of a settlement or judgment, including attorney's fees and costs, obtained against such persons arising out of an actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such persons had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such persons.
§30-1C-15. Rule making functions of the Interstate Commission.
(b) Rules deemed appropriate for the operations of the Interstate Commission shall be made pursuant to a rulemaking process that substantially conforms to the "Model State Administrative Procedure Act" of 2010, and subsequent amendments thereto.
§30-1C-16. Oversight of Interstate Compact.
(a) The executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce the Compact and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the Compact's purposes and intent. The provisions of the Compact and the rules promulgated hereunder shall have standing as statutory law but shall not override existing state authority to regulate the practice of medicine.
§30-1C-17. Enforcement of Interstate Compact.
(a) The Interstate Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of the Compact.
(b) The Interstate Commission may, by majority vote of the Commissioners, initiate legal action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, or, at the discretion of the Interstate Commission, in the federal district where the Interstate Commission has its principal offices, to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Compact, and its promulgated rules and bylaws, against a member state in default. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation including reasonable attorney's fees.
(c) The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive remedies of the Interstate Commission. The Interstate Commission may avail itself of any other remedies available under state law or the regulation of a profession.
(a) The Interstate Commission shall attempt, upon the request of a member state, to resolve disputes which are subject to the Compact and which may arise among member states or member boards.
§30-1C-20. Member states, effective date and amendment.
(d) The Interstate Commission shall notify the other member states of the withdrawing state's intent to withdraw within sixty days of its receipt of notice provided under subsection (c) of this section.
(a) The Compact shall dissolve effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the member state which reduces the membership in the Compact to one member state.
(b) Upon the dissolution of the Compact, the Compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the Interstate Commission shall be concluded and surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.
§30-1C-24. Binding effect of Compact and other laws.

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