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Wisconsin Governor signs licensing bills, expanding physician assistants' scope, establishing licensure of anesthesiologist assistants

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has signed into law Senate Bill 421 which expands physician assistants' scope of practice. Governor Walker also signed Senate Bill 383 which creates licensing requirements and practice standards for anesthesiologist assistants and establishes an advisory Council on Anesthesiologist Assistants.

Senate Bill 421

Senate Bill 383 

Canadian government considers use of third-party to assess foreign credentials

Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has announced the Federal Government's intention to select a third-party to assess the credentials of immigrants, prior to their arrival in the country. A request for proposals will be issued before summer, with the goal of beginning assessments prior to the end of the year. Mr. Kenney said ""This is an opportunity for specialized assessment of their credentials and their education by going to the experts....Unlike immigration officers, they know what the standards are to be licensed as an engineer or as a physician in Canada." He also reportedly offered some criticism of regulatory colleges, who should "do a lot more" to streamline processes. "We have a moral obligation at all levels of government, all professional licensing bodies, to move forward with deliberation, and haste and urgency to do whatever we can to open the opportunity for ... practice."

More.

Ontario government appoints supervisor to take over denturist regulator

Ontario's provincial government has appointed a supervisor to oversee the College of Denturists of Ontario in an attempt to address concerns related to fairness and transparency in the organization's operations. This marks the first occasion that the province has taken control of a regulator and, according to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, is "is in response to a number of complaints regarding the College´s operations. An operational review and audit of the College´s regulatory practices undertaken last year noted some deficiencies in many of the College´s practices and procedures." Deanna Williams, former registrar of the Ontario College of Pharmacists, began her role as supervisor on March 26, 2012 and reports to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. The College has approximately 547 registrants, whose regulation is governed by Ontario's Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.

Press release. 

UK Parliamentary Committee criticizes England's health and adult social care regulator

A report by the UK Parliament Public Accounts Committee has criticized the Care Quality Commission (CQC), regulator of health and adult social care in England, for failing to spend its budget and not filling staffing vacancies, not dealing quickly with information from whistle-blowers, and for its governance arrangements, leadership and culture. The report also expresses concern that the CQC fails to adequately measure its own performance, highlights potential problems related to changes to its registration process and suggests that inspectors are not appropriately supported. In conclusion it suggests "The Commission has a long way to go to become an effective regulator. It is not ready to take on the functions of other organisations." In its response to the report, the CQC expresses disappointment that the Public Accounts Committee "does not recognise the significant improvements of recent months".

Public Accounts Committee report

Care Quality Commission response.

Arizona exempts eyebrow threaders from cosmetology regulations, becoming fourth state to do so

Arizona Governor Janice K. Brewer signed House Bill 2262 which exempts eyebrow threaders from the state's cosmetology regulations. The bill was drafted by attorneys with the Institute of Justice, a libertarian law-firm based in Virginia, and its passage means Arizona becomes the fourth state to enact similar legislation, following the lead of California, Utah and Nevada. “This bill eliminates an unnecessary government roadblock to earning an honest living,” said Representative Heather Carter, who sponsored the bill. “Cosmetology schools do not teach threading. Requiring threaders to attend cosmetology school and pass the cosmetology licensing exam simply did not make any sense.”

House Bill 2262.

Secretary of State withdraws controversial licensing reorganization bill

Georgia Senate Bill 445, which would have removed responsibility from more than 40 professional licensing boards for the approval of licenses and the disciplinary process, has been withdrawn from consideration. Under the bill these tasks would have been undertaken by the Secretary of State's own staff and a new seven-member board, with the boards limited to setting policies and performing an advisory role. In withdrawing the bill, Secretary of State Brian Kemp said, "“We got some really good feedback in the committee hearing, and even though there was some opposition, there was a lot of agreement on speeding up licensing times and the enforcement part of it.” Secretary Kemp noted his intention to introduce a revised bill during the 2013 legislative session.

Senate Bill 445.

Alberta revises licensing arrangements for geoscientists, removing distinction between professional geologists and professional geophysicists

On March 15 the Government of Alberta approved changes to the licensure of geoscientists, which involve the removal of the distinction between professional geologists and professional geophysicists. Under the new arrangements, only the term professional geoscientists will be used for new licensees, while existing licensees may select either designation. The regulatory body has changed its name to reflect these revisions, now being known as Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).

Delaware considers bill allowing suspension or denial of licenses for tax delinquents

Delaware's House of Representatives is to consider a bill that would authorise the Division of Professional Regulation to deny or suspend the occupational licenses of those with substantial tax debts. The division would only be permitted to act when a taxpayer has exhausted his or her due process rights and the liability has been reduced to a Superior Court judgment that exceeds $1,000 and remains unpaid.

House Bill 257.

Increased scope for advanced nurse practitioners does not reduce physicians' salaries, study finds

A study by the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services in Washington, D.C has found that expanding scopes of practice for advanced nurse practitioners does not have an adverse affect on the salaries of physicians. The sixteen states, and the District of Columbia, that have approved expanded scopes of practice for advanced practice nurses have not seen lower physician salaries than in those states with more restricted scopes. The study employed data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics on earnings.

Study abstract.

Study text.

Massachusetts to consider regulating practice of body-piercing

The Massachusetts legislature has begun its deliberations on House Bill 584, regarding the regulation of the practice of body-piercing. The bill, which was recently approved by Joint Committee on Public Health, directs the state Department of Public Health to promulgate rules and regulations related to the regulation of the occupation.

Bill status.