The new bill introduced in the Alaska House of Representatives is expected to improve access to medical care across the state by streamlining the licensure process for healthcare professionals. Sponsored by Representatives William Zachary Fields and Andrew Timothy Gray, HB 352 proposes that Alaska join several interstate compacts aimed at streamlining licensure across professions. These include the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLCC) for physicians, the PA Licensure Compact for physician assistants, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Compact.
Alaska is characterized by severe healthcare access issues. Nearly 98% of the state is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or a Medically Underserved Area (MUA), which is indicative of the challenge of delivering medical services in its expansive and intricate geography.
Limited transportation infrastructure and the geographic isolation of many communities further intensify these challenges. At present, just 21.85% of primary care needs in Alaska are being met, highlighting a critical gap in access to physicians and other healthcare providers.
With the enactment of HB 352, physicians licensed in any of the 43 or more member states of the IMLCC would receive an expedited licensure procedure in Alaska. This would greatly boost the number of physicians, especially in rural areas that do not have an adequate supply. Chair of IMLCC, Kenneth Cleveland, has pointed to the need to collaborate interstate: IMLCC is now assuming the role of assisting in interstate compacts to address the issue of medical professionals nationwide.
There is a compelling case for all states to participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLCC), given its advantages for physicians, its value to states, and its greatest impact on patients. According to Marschall Smith, Executive Director of the IMLCC, a nationwide shortage of physicians continues to restrict access to care, especially in underserved and rural communities. The IMLCC addresses this issue by simplifying multi-state licensure, allowing physicians to reach more patients and improving timely access to care.
IMLCC is a bipartisan national initiative that was formed in 2017 to represent 57 State Medical licensure boards in 43 or more member states, Washington, D.C., and Guam. It is also focused on delivering a single technological platform that makes it easier to do multi-state licensure and share licensure and disciplinary information between state boards. Closing the former siloed data system, IMLCC fosters efficiency and transparency in physician licensing and assists the states in overcoming healthcare access gaps. Notably, IMLCC is not funded by the federal government or taxpayers.
The organization is a self-funded entity that offers technology services free of charge to the participating state licensing boards. Membership requires each state to enact corresponding enabling legislation, a standard approach while preserving the state’s authority over licensure. According to advocates of HB 352, Alaska’s participation in these compacts would be an important step toward reducing healthcare disparities and improving patients’ access to qualified providers.
Since almost the entire state is considered underserved, legislators and healthcare executives see the prospects of having a significant effect on the health of the population, especially in the areas of rural communities, which currently have a hard time accessing timely care. As HB 352 moves through the legislative process, healthcare advocates are watching closely, hopeful that Alaska will join other states in using interstate compacts as a key strategy to address the nation’s urgent healthcare workforce challenges.
References: IMLCC. Information Release. Alaska’s Entry Into The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Proposed In Recent House Bill. Published February 24, 2026. Accessed March 24, 2026. Alaska’s Entry Into The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Proposed In Recent House Bill.
