Legislation from state Rep. Rylee Linting that will ensure more access to care, remove bureaucratic burdens and help health care professionals across the state grow their careers was overwhelmingly advanced today by the Michigan House.

Linting’s House Bill 5455 would continue Michigan’s role in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which allows qualified physicians seeking to practice in multiple states to be eligible for expedited licensure in all participating states. A current expiration date for an extension exists in late March, and the state’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has already started the process of exiting the compact.

“If Michigan does not act, all of these privileges that help deliver vital care and better health outcomes for patients will go away,” Linting said. “We’d be looking at less physicians in our state due to the duplicative licensing and red tape they’d encounter. That would make our existing physician shortage worse while appointments are harder to come by and wait times are longer. With the rise in telehealth services, we’d be at a disadvantage there too.

“This is something that will have a real and daily impact for workers, families and vulnerable people throughout communities we all represent, including ones across Downriver. I am going to keep fighting for them so we can get this issue to the governor’s desk.”

Linting previously introduced a plan last year that was passed by the House to keep Michigan as a compact member permanently. Michigan joined the compact in 2018 and there are currently nearly 40 participating states.

HB 5455 now moves to the Senate for consideration.

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Rylee Linting speaks on House Bill 5455 at the state Capitol in Lansing on Wednesday, Feb. 4.