Illinois lawmakers, health care leaders discuss unreasonable license processing delays

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Thousands of health care workers in Illinois are worried about their job security due to unreasonable waiting periods for the state to approve or renew their licenses. State lawmakers believe the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation must be held accountable.

IDFPR is responsible for the routine licensing of your health care providers, but lawmakers and industry leaders argue the state agency is failing in that role.

"Applicants tell us that there's no real way for them to obtain status updates on their applications or renewals," said David Porter, the senior vice president of health policy research and advocacy for the Illinois State Medical Society. "There's virtually no chance to be able to connect with someone at the department by phone or email who could provide such updates."

Many doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, social workers and other health care workers have expressed concern about losing their jobs if their licenses lapse due to no fault of their own. Some have waited nearly a year for license approval.

"In other states, the average wait time is 30 days," said Susan Swart, Executive Director for the Illinois chapter of the American Nurses Association. "In some states it is as quick as two weeks. So, I tell you, if other states can do that, I do not understand why Illinois cannot."

Illinois health care leaders told the committee that they are worried more providers will look for jobs in other states to avoid this massive problem. The Illinois Health and Hospital Association said 37 states are part of a nurse licensure compact which allows more than 2 million nurses to practice under multi-state contracts.

"Red states and blue states are joining the compact in an all out effort to rebuild their states' health care workforce," explained David Gross, IHA senior vice president of government relations. "The biggest benefit of the licensure compact is that it still allows states to regulate scope of practice requirements as well as rely on their local needs."

IDFPR officials told lawmakers that they have spent months trying to find a replacement for the state's outdated licensing system. Secretary Mario Treto Jr. said the department recently landed a master contract, but the deal is no longer on the table.

"Unfortunately, as we drill down into very specific needs that have to be met, and how we may go about the process to obtain them, we have reached a point where we don't think the joint purchase master contract will work," Treto explained.

While the agency was hit with the unexpected setback this week, Secretary Treto said the IDFPR will quickly pivot to a new procurement method. Treto noted that he will provide updates for lawmakers as often as he can.

"The loss of health care professionals directly ties into the delay of health care services and health care service delivery for residents in Illinois," Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) said Wednesday. "This is perhaps the most significant health care challenge in the state of Illinois at this moment, and that's saying something."

Morgan said he plans to continue discussing the issue with members of the House Health Care Licenses Committee in order to create the best legislative solution. Rep. Randy Frese (R-Quincy) requested that the House Democrat and Republican staffs work together to collect more questions from committee members to get more clarity Treto and other IDFPR officials in the coming months.