Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A bill on Gov. Phil Bryant's desk could shorten the time it takes physicians licensed in other states to get licensed in Mississippi.

House Bill 41 would add Mississippi to a legal agreement between states to share information and speed up licensing processes for physicians to work across state lines. Instead of applying to each state separately, physicians would apply to one interstate commission offering expedited licenses for one or more other states.

The Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure and the Mississippi State Medical Association support the bill. They say it would help bring physicians to medically underserved areas.

Alabama is currently the only state bordering Mississippi that is a part of the agreement.

A spokesman for Bryant says the governor will sign the bill.