The Senate Committee on Health and Demography is urging that Professional Regulation Commission frontliners - staff and members of the regulatory boards, exam proctors, and volunteer proctors - be included in the COVID-19 vaccine priority list in order to avoid further delays in exam administration. The request is in response to the growing need to administer exams to nursing graduates in order to license more health professionals.
April 28, 2021
Illinois House passes professional midwives bill
HB3401, Licensed Certified Professional Midwife Practice Act, has passed in the Illinois House and moves to the Senate. The definition of midwifery specifically refers to low-risk pregnancy and excludes the practice of nursing and medicine. The bill would require applicants to be certified by the North American Registry of Midwives and complete a postsecondary midwifery education program. The bill would create the Illinois Midwifery Board.
Ohio: Interstate Medical Licensure Compact passes Senate
The Ohio Senate has passed a bill to allow the state to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. The bill moves on the the House. Twenty-nine states are currently part of the Compact. The Senate has recently voted to join the physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nursing compacts.
Pennsylvania: results from veteran and military spouse occupational licensing survey
The Pennsylvania Department of State has released results from a survey of veterans and military spouses about occupational licensing issues. The survey indicated that "translating military credentials and work experience to satisfy state occupational license requirements poses a significant barrier to veterans." Respondents indicated a desire for easier acceptance of military training, education and experience, as well as waiver of fess, when applying for occupational licensure. A military occupational crosswalk is in development to guide licensing boards in converting military experience to licensure requirements. The report also recommends increasing veterans and military spouse representation on licensing boards, expediting review of military licensure applications, and allowing veterans to be licensed by examination.
Oklahoma legislature passes Universal Licensing Recognition Act
HB2873 has now passed in the Oklahoma Senate and moves to the governor's office. The bill allows people moving to and establishing residency on Oklahoma who are licensed in another state with equivalent licensing standards and have been in good standing for at least one year to have their experience and training applied "in the manner most favorable" to satisfy licensing requirements in Oklahoma. The applicant must be free of any pending complaints or imposed discipline and pay all applicable licensure application fees.
April 22, 2021
Professional Standards Authority publishes "Learning from Covid-19" study
The Professional Standards Authority has published a paper studying the actions of regulators in the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, through July 2020. The report includes 28 case studies of regulators and the changes they made in response to the initial emergency phase of the pandemic. It also identifies areas where such changes in practice could become permanent and areas where more research and discussion will be needed.
UK care minister addresses need to modernize healthcare regulation
In this article, UK care minister Helen Whatley discusses the "Regulating Healthcare Professionals, Protecting the Public" consultation. "The reforms will modernise each of the healthcare professional regulators’ legal frameworks, making them simpler and more consistent. This will enable regulators to provide public protection more efficiently and spend more time supporting the professional standards of all registrants."
Australia: life insurers launch Professional Standards Framework
The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance and several life insurer companies have developed a Professional Standards Framework for life insurance claim and underwriting professionals. The framework includes competencies related to ethics, sustainability, products and services, and law and regulation. Claims professionals are expected to complete the competencies by December 2023, and underwriting professionals should complete the competencies by December 2024.
APSHO urges full scope of practice for advanced practitioners
The Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology has submitted a letter to President Biden urging for regulatory changes to allow advanced practitioners to practice to the full extent of their scope of practice. The letter notes increasing demand for primary care providers and shortages thereof, especially in cancer care, and the demand for interprofessional agility, especially during the COVID pandemic. The letter also cites research indicating the safety of care provided by advanced practitioners practicing to their full scope.
April 14, 2021
Florida bill to prohibit local occupational licensing
A bill passed in the Florida House and under consideration in the Senate would prohibit local jurisdictions from establishing local occupational licensing or contractors after the bill's effective date of July 1. "Local governments could not require a license for painting, flooring, cabinetry, interior remodeling, driveway or tennis court installation, decorative stone, tile, marble, granite, or terrazzo installation, plastering, stuccoing, caulking, and canvas awning or ornamental iron installation."
