Licensure of Vermont Medical Laboratory Science

1
Licensure of Vermont Medical Laboratory Science
Professionals

• David McLane, VT Licensure Committee Co-Chair
• Carol Roberts, VT Licensure Committee Co-Chair
• (Updated August 3, 2009)

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History Personnel Licensure Required

• California (1937)
• Florida (1967)
• Hawaii (1974)
• Louisiana (1992)
• Montana (1993)
• Nevada (1967)
• North Dakota (1990)
• Puerto Rico (1939)
• Rhode Island (1992)
• Tennessee (1967)
• West Virginia (1991)
• New York (2004)
• Facility Licensure (with personnel components)
• Alaska
• Georgia

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Current Licensure Efforts / Activity

• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Texas
• Washington
• New Jersey
• Iowa
• Georgia
• Vermont

• Utah
• Ohio
• South Carolina
• Wyoming
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia
• South Dakota
• Delaware
• Missouri
• Alaska

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The case for personnel licensure

• Protect the public health and safety (consumer
  protection). Assurance of quality
• Protect the scope of practice by excluding those
  who have not acquired appropriate requisites for
  licensure
• Need to identify, locate, and mobilize
  practitioners for emergency preparedness
• Establish minimum education requirements for each
  professional category

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Side effects of NOT being licensed

• Our profession is one of the most difficult
  healthcare workgroups on which to collect data.
• In our current workforce shortage, the ability to
  define our profession with quantitative data is
  greatly hindered.
• Many states collect data on nurses, pharmacists,
  and physicians but are unable to collect similar
  data on our profession.

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Advantages of personnel licensure

• Quality of laboratory testing assured and
  improved
• Credentials Licensure results
• A license can be revoked. Without licensure a
  person can always work at another laboratory.
• Defines the scope of practice of our profession
• Increases public visibility and prestige for the
  profession
• Puts profession on a level playing field with
  other licensed healthcare professionals (aids in
  recruitment)
• Other healthcare professions value licensure.
  Our status is impacted by that mindset.
• Licensure is part of the formula use to determine
  wages.

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Points to consider

• Unregulated practice will harm or endanger the
  public
• Existing protections are insufficient to protect
  public
• Regulation will mitigate existing problems.
• CMS CLIA data supports that regulation improves
  quality.
• Occupation requires possession of knowledge,
  skills and abilities that are teachable/testable
  (scope of practice)
• This profession is clearly distinguished from
  other licensed professions
• The economic impact is negligible

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Concerns (sometimes misconceptions ) regarding
personnel licensure

• In times of a personnel shortage, a possible
  decline in availability of practitioners
  (especially in rural and underserved areas)
• Mobility of the practitioner may be limited. (It
  is essential to assure state-to-state
  reciprocity)
• Increased cost to the state
• Possible increase in the cost of testing
• The need to take a test to maintain a license
• Increased cost to the practitioner only true
  statement on this list

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Process

• Identify the players in the laboratory
  community.
• Establish a coalition.
• Identify leadership
• Understand VT state legislative and
  administrative process
• Develop goals, strategies, timelines
• Develop an education and communication plan
• Develop a bill (used ASCLS/ASCP model bill as a
  start)
• Work to identify legislative author and sponsors

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Common questions from current practitioners

• Why should we be licensed?
• Will I have to take a test?
• How much will this cost me?
• What are the continuing education requirements?
• Are you going to pay me more?
• Will I lose my job if a licensure bill is passed?
• Why do I need a license if I am already
  certified?
• Why I should I support personnel licensure?
• How can I have input in the process?
• How can I help?

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Update on the Vermont process
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Coalition represents

• ASCLS-VT
• representing Medical Laboratory Scientists and
• Medical Laboratory Technicians
• VT/NH Cytotechnology Association
• representing Cytotechnologists
• VT/NH Society of Histotechnology
• representing Histotechnologists and
  Histotechnicians
• American Association of Pathology Assistants
• representing PathologistsAssistants
• ASCP-Local Representatives (Northeast)

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Coalition committment

• Organizations have agreed to participate in the
  process.
• All support the process and will support the bill
  as it moves forward.
• There is no formal written agreement.

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Coalition members (putting a face to the
process)

• Representing ASCLS-VT
• Dave McLane MT(ASCP) Coalition Co-Chair
• Carol Roberts CLS(NCA) Coalition Co-Chair
• Danielle Sartini MT (ASCP)
• Judy Schwenn, MSA, MT (ASCP,NCA)
• Representing VTNHCA
• Sandra Giroux SCT(ASCP)
• Carol Colasacco SCT(ASCP)
• Representing VTNHSH
• Jude Carpenter HTL(ASCP)
• Jeannette Mitchell HTL, QIHC(ASCP)
• Representing AAPA
• Michelle Schwartz PA(ASCP) AAPA

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Bill Provisions

• Qualification Routes
• These have been simplified to include only
• Education (associates degree or higher) required
• Nationally recognized certification required
• These qualifications do not apply to
  grandfathered individuals.

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Grandfathering

• A Grandfather clause allows for individuals
  currently employed at the time of passage of the
  bill to apply for a license regardless of their
  education and certification status.
• Who is eligible?
• Anyone currently employed on the effective date
  of the licensure law.
• Anyone not currently employed who met preexisting
  certification requirements and reenters the work
  force within 5 years of effective date of the
  licensure law.

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Bill Provisions

• Temporary license provision only applies to
  candidates who are eligible for and are scheduled
  to take the appropriate certification exam or
  have successfully passed the exam and awaiting
  results.
• Board may grant a license to subspecialties that
  dont yet have a certification exam.

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Bill Provisions

•  License renewal will require continuing
  education
• Renewal period and CEUs
• Two year renewal period is consistent with
  Vermont office of Professional Regulation policy.
• Recertification periods for NCA and ASCP-BOR are
  currently 3 years.
• Submit CEUs as part of renewal
• All categories need 18 hours per 2 years

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Costs of application/renewal

• To be set by the state but
• General guidelines for VT healthcare license
  costs
• Unless otherwise provided by law, the following
  fees shall apply to all professions regulated by
  the director in consultation with advisor
  appointees under Title 26
• Application for registration 75
• Application for licensure or certification 100
• Biennial renewal 200 EXCEPT FOR
• Occupational therapists and assistants 150
• Physical therapists and assistants 100
• Clinical social workers 150
• Limited temporary license or work permit 50

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Draft Bill

• The most current version of the Draft Bill is
  being sent to all Laboratory Directors.
• If you would like to receive a copy by e-mail,
  please send your request to dmclane_at_chsi.org

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If you have questions or wish to assist, contact

• David McLane dmclane_at_chsi.org
• Carol Roberts Carolofvt_at_aol.com
• Or a representative from your professional society