Burns legislation to allow PA to join interstate compacts sent to the governor

The goal is to reduce barriers and increase access to care

Rep. Frank Burns    July 3, 2024 | 4:04 PM

HARRISBURG, July 3 – Addressing the worker shortages in healthcare, Rep. Frank Burns’ legislation that enables interstate licensing compacts to become operational has been sent to the governor to be signed into law.

The bill (H.B. 2200) requires applicants in healthcare professions to submit fingerprints as part of their criminal history records check and lays out the process that Pennsylvania State Police and state licensing boards must follow in considering them.

This change in law facilitates Pennsylvania’s entry into interstate compacts, which allow a licensee to practice in other participating states with just one license. Previous efforts to implement the compacts passed into law were unsuccessful without this fingerprinting process in place.

“Anyone who has waited hours or even days in an emergency room or had trouble finding a professional that is taking new patients will welcome this legislation,” said Burns, chairman of the House Professional Licensure Committee. “This represents months of negotiation between the state and federal government. As a result, it will make Pennsylvania’s interstate compacts operational, which help health systems to have more flexibility in hiring and for health practitioners from out-of-state to find jobs in Pennsylvania.”

Under the bill, those applying for an initial license, certificate, registration or permit, or an interstate compact license, in a healthcare field must submit a full set of fingerprints to the Pennsylvania State Police for a background check. Then, state police would send the fingerprints to the FBI for identity verification and a national criminal history check.

This would apply to those in the following fields who are overseen by their respective state boards:

chiropractors, dentists, speech language pathologists and audiologists, acupuncturists, naturopathics, nurses, occupational therapy, optometrists, osteopathic doctors, pharmacists, physical therapists, podiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists and counselors.

Licensees who currently hold a Pennsylvania license would not need to submit fingerprints for a criminal history check for renewal of their Pennsylvania license.

“Interstate compacts provide flexibility for licensed professionals to move where they want and work where they’re needed, including military families who move frequently,” Burns said.