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Alaska Dental Health Aide Therapist Program provides access to rural population; explored as an option for dealing with shortages nationally

As reported previously, a U.S. study has highlighted more than 4,500 areas in which there are critical dental shortages. For some, Alaska's Dental Health Aide Therapist Program provides an appropriate response to scarcity by permitting dental therapists to practice in the state, following the completion of two-years of post-high school competency-based primary care training, which includes preventive and clinical strategies. In addition to the remote locations in which part of the state's population live, a further challenge is presented by higher than average levels of decay. Model pilot programs are funded by the new federal health care reform law, with recent graduates in Minnesota, and interest has been expressed in similar programs in more than 10 other states.

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South Carolina central agency reports employee sale of cosmetology licenses

Testifying before a senate panel, Catherine Templeton, administrator of South Carolina's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, reported that an employee was arrested in connection with the sale of 50 cosmetology licenses. "The charge was that the employee was selling licenses and presumably to support the human trafficking that goes on through the nation," said Ms. Templeton, adding "the licenses were provided to individuals that have not met the statutory requirements for the licenses and allowed people who were not otherwise qualified to work in South Carolina." In additional testimony, Ms. Templeton also informed the senate panel of allegations, which have not been confirmed, that some salons may have received information that inspectors were going to be visiting, or that inspectors took bribes.

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Delaware prohibits dispensing pain medication from drive-through pharmacies

Next month will see a new regulation go into effect in Delaware barring the dispensing of Schedule II drugs (which include pain medications such oxycodone), in an attempt to reduce prescription drug fraud. "Law enforcement was having trouble because it was easy to perpetrate fraud through the drive-through window" said James Collins, director of Delaware's Division of Professional Regulation. Security cameras positioned at drive-through windows are frequently failing to capture a sufficiently clear image of those collecting fraudulent prescriptions, unlike cameras deployed inside the pharmacy. The new regulation will permit patients or their representatives to deposit the prescription at the drive through window, but they will be required to go into the pharmacy to collect medication.

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Alabama immigration law: licensing delays predicted

Delays in initial licensure and at the time of renewal, are "unintended difficulties" associated with Alabama's immigration law, which requires proof of legal residence or citizenship at every interaction with state government. The state's medical regulator has acknowledged the law will create much additional work for the agency, and expresses concern about its ability to offer the online renewal of licenses, (currently accounting for 75 - 80 percent of renewals), because it lacks the means to verify documents electronically.

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Wisconsin medical board disciplines doctors for writing demonstration sick notes

Seven Wisconsin doctors were reprimanded for writing sick notes for demonstrators involved in protests against Governor Scott Walker’s collective bargaining law in the spring of 2011. The Wisconsin Medical Examining Board stated that each doctor gave notes without appropriately documenting the evaluations undertaken. In addition to the reprimands, the physicians must complete four hours of continued education in medical record-keeping, and reimburse the state for the cost of the disciplinary proceedings.

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Virginia commission report recommends deregulation, consolidation of regulatory boards

Governor Bob McDonnell's Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring has approved many of a work group's recommendations to improve effectiveness and efficiency across state government. Among the proposals are the deregulation of polygraph examiners, hair-braiders, mold inspectors and mold remediators, interior designers and landscape architects, and the consolidation of the Board for Opticians and the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists; the Board for Geology and the Board for Professional Soil Scientists and Wetlands Professionals. The approved recommendations will now be sent to Governor McDonnell for consideration.

Georgia Secretary of State warns new immigration law may delay licensing process

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp has warned of possible delays to the licensing process following the passage of House Bill 87. As of January 1, 2012 applicants for professional and occupational licenses must submit approved secure and verifiable documentation, such as a passport or driver's licenses to begin the process. According to Secretary Kemp, it currently takes between 25 and 30 days to process new licenses and approximately 14 for renewals. He suggests the increased paperwork requirements could increase these times by between 90 and 120 days. 

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Illinois bill aims to overturn Cemetery Oversight Act, approved in wake of Burr Oaks scandal

Illinois State Senator John O. Jones has introduced a bill into the legislature that would overturn the Cemetery Oversight Act of 2010. "The General Assembly approved legislation, which I did not support, that was assumed to be a sufficient response to the Burr Oaks tragedy; however, we ended up with a regulatory department that is determined to run roughshod over our cemeteries," Jones said. "Current laws were broken with the Burr Oaks case and we did not need an entirely new system of regulations." If approved, the proposed legislation would return most of the oversight role back to the Office of the Illinois Comptroller and other offices that had previously had such responsibility.

Senate Bill 2515 text

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Delaware governor wants mandatory physician education in prescribing narcotics, controlled drugs

Delaware Governor Jack Markell has called for the state to require its doctors to complete continuing education courses in prescribing narcotics and controlled drugs as a condition of licensure renewal. The state's doctors are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years in order to be eligible for renewal, but currently are able to select the topics to study. Governor Markell also indicated that doctors should prescribe such drugs electronically, and pledged to work with counterparts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland to share data with Delaware's prescription monitoring program, which is scheduled to begin in 2012.

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Alaska could increase real estate license fees

A proposed increase in the license fee for Alaska real estate agents could raise the fee by 250%.  The Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing says that the increase is necessary to cover rising expenses due to an increase in investigations over the past several years.  Statutes require license fees to cover the licensing program's costs.  The Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development is still researching additional cost-cutting options.  Similar increases are being considered for home inspectors, master guide-outfitters, game transporters, architects, engineers, and land surveyors.

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