State Rep. Rylee Linting (R-Wyandotte) today joined various health care industry and hospital leaders at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital to highlight the finalization of her plan ensuring Michigan remains in an important interstate partnership.

Linting’s House Bill 5455 allows the state to stay in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which streamlines licensures for physicians looking to locate or practice in Michigan, helps in-state physicians grow their careers across state lines through Telehealth and other methods, and gets residents and families better access to care. Without legislation to extend the state’s participation in the compact, thousands of doctors would no longer have been licensed in Michigan and patients here would have lost access to the doctors they trust.

Linting has prioritized the issue since the start of the 2025-26 legislative term. Her bill was signed by the governor Thursday.

“This plan provides clarity for vital health care professionals across Michigan, protects our most vulnerable citizens, and will deliver better health outcomes for people throughout our communities,” Linting said. “Through the signing of my bill, we will ensure that more than 8,000 doctors in our state, including many in southeast Michigan, can continue providing critical care without interruption. I have heard from many doctors over the past several months about what not renewing would mean for their careers and how it would impact the number of doctors we have working in Michigan. I have heard from people I represent who were worried about having longer wait times or appointments being harder to come by if there were less doctors available. These were legitimate concerns, and it was important to lead the way so that our state did not end up in a dire situation.

“This is a win-win for Michigan, and I am hopeful it spurs further action on other practical proposals in the Legislature that will help make health care more accessible and affordable.”

The legislation also recently earned unanimous approval in the Michigan Senate.

“Ensuring that every family in Michigan can see a doctor when they need one is a top priority,” State Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) said. “The extension of the physician compact was crucial to maintaining healthcare accessibility across our state, and especially in Wyandotte and Downriver. I’m committed to working across the aisle to continue putting Michigan patients first.”

Michigan first became a part of this pivotal agreement through signed law in 2018. At the time of its initial passage in Michigan, there were 22 states that had passed legislation entering into the compact. Nearly 40 states and U.S. territories are now members. Michigan’s participation was set to end on March 28 if the Legislature did not act before that date.

“This outcome provides much-needed certainty for our Henry Ford Health physicians who may have been impacted and ensures our patients can maintain access to high-quality, continuous care,” said Rand O’Leary, Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital president. “This could have impacted 127 Henry Ford Health physicians who are committed to caring for the people of Michigan, including eight Henry Ford Wyandotte physicians who are an integral part of our Downriver community. We’re pleased that this issue has been resolved, and that clarity has been restored, allowing our care teams to continue serving patients without disruption.”

Participation in the compact is also relevant for the federal Rural Health Transformation Fund, as member states are better positioned to receive funding that can help address underserved areas.