Kentucky's Education Professional Standards Board has approved an emergency regulation to allow colleges or universities to partner with school districts on an expedited certification program, providing individuals with a bachelor's degree and initial teaching certification after three years in the program. Each program will be designed to meet the needs of the participating district and will require the individual to complete a residency or paraprofessional component within the district as part of the program.
July 13, 2022
June 22, 2022
Illinois: license reactivation for mental health practitioners
A new law in Illinois will allow mental health professionals who have been out of practice for less than five years to temporarily reactivate their license. The bill also expands behavioral health training and creates incentives for hiring individuals in recovery from substance use disorder or mental illness.
May 17, 2022
States expand which professionals can provide abortion services
Several states have expanded or are expanding the list of healthcare professionals who can provide abortion services. With the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned, lawmakers in Democratic states are concerned that an influx of patients seeking abortion will overwhelm their current capacity. States are moving to allow nurses, midwives, and other non-physician healthcare workers to handle simple and early abortion procedures. States are also budgeting money for training of these providers.
April 27, 2022
Changes in scope of practice for advanced practice providers
Several states have recently made changes or rejected changes to scope of practice laws fro nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists. Emergency powers and waivers due to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed advanced practice providers to temporarily perform some expanded services. Supporters of expanded scope laws argue for providers to be allowed to practice to the full extent of their education and training, resulting in improved access to care for patients. Opponents of expanded scope cite studies showing that most patients want a physician to be involved in their care and that care provided by advanced practice providers is actually more expensive than care provided by doctors.
Some states with recent scope of practice changes include
- New York allows nurse practitioners to practice without supervision from a doctor
- Massachusetts expanded the independent practice of physician assistants
- Maryland now allows nurse practitioners, midwives, and physician assistants to perform abortions
- Kansas allows full practice authority for nurse practitioners, read more
- Alabama allows certified registered nurse anesthetists to provide anesthesia services in coordination with a physician, podiatrist or dentist and order certain medications and tests, read more
- Wisconsin's governor vetoed a bill that would have granted independent practice authority to APRNs, read more
April 13, 2022
Expanding pharmacist scope of practice
A Kaiser Health News report details expanded scope of practice for pharmacists across the US. At least 12 states have authorized pharmacists to treat minor illnesses such as urinary tract infections, strep throat, and flu after performing rapid point-of-care tests. The National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations has also noted more states allowing direct prescribing authority instead of collaborative practice agreements.
AMA article explores physician shortage
According to an Association of American Medical Colleges report, the US faces a projected shortage of 37,800 to 124,000 physicians within 12 years, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. Rather than expending scopes of practice of other healthcare providers, the American Medical Association supports the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2021 to provide 14000 new Medicare-supported GME positions. The AAMC will conduct a survey this year to collect data on physician work hours and patterns, retirement plans, use of telehealth, debt, burnout, and wellness.
April 07, 2022
North Carolina: COVID licensure provisions extended
The governor of North Carolina has issued an executive order to allow licensing boards to continue to modify or waive requirements to allow retired medical professionals and students to provide care to COVID patients.
March 09, 2022
Minnesota considers Nurse Licensure Compact
The Minnesota Senate has passed a bill to allow Minnesota to join the Nurse Licensure Compact, which would allow Minnesota nurses in good standing to apply for a multistate and the Minnesota Board of Nursing to recognize nurses from other compact states. Concern has been raised that the standards set by the Compact are less stringent than the standards already in place in Minnesota. Concern has also been raised that the compact will not address the problem of a nursing shortage because other factors, such as hospital staffing, lack of mental health support, violence at healthcare facilities, and inadequate faculty, are contributing to the challenge.
February 23, 2022
Maryland considers allowing licenses for undocumented immigrants
Legislation under consideration in the Maryland House and Senate would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain professional and occupational licenses. Five states - New Jersey, Colorado, California, Nevada, and New Mexico - have removed lawful presence in the US as a requirement for professional and occupational licensing, provided candidates meet all other requirements. Legislators in support of the Maryland bill cite the positive impact it could have on labor shortage issues.
February 16, 2022
Expanded scope of practice for pharmacists
Expanded scope of practice for pharmacists in Florida allows qualified pharmacists to test, screen, and treat minor health conditions and to collaborate with doctors for treating chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes and prescribing medications.
A bill passed in the Kansas Senate would allow pharmacists to test for and treat certain conditions such as influenza, strep throat, and urinary tract infections. That bill now moves to the House.
