The Nurse Licensure Compact's Effect on Telemedicine Usage

Abstract

As a result of a shortage of primary care physicians, considerable portion of patients in the US have difficulty accessing primary care. Telemedicine allows healthcare professionals to reach patients in shortage areas, but state-based occupational licensing laws make interstate practice difficult. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) was designed to improve interstate practice for Registered Nurses (RNs), including telemedicine. Our preliminary analysis does not find evidence that the NLC is able to significantly increase telemedicine usage from out-of-state providers. Policymakers cannot rely on just the NLC to encourage the adoption of telemedicine; other regulations currently limit its adoption.