Bill allowing out-of-state health care providers provisional status to practice in state advances
NEW JERSEY – In an effort to help head off a growing shortage of health care workers in the state, the Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Vitale that would temporarily authorize certain out-of-State health care professionals and recent graduates of health care training programs to practice in New Jersey pending a final determination on an application for licensure or certification.
Under the bill, qualified alcohol and drug counselors, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, physicians, homemaker-home health aides, certain nurses, psychologists, psychoanalysts, respiratory care practitioners, and social workers licensed or certified to practice in another state who apply for licensure or certification in New Jersey will be authorized to practice in-state for up to one year pending a final determination on the individual’s application.
“The noticeable shortage of health care providers makes our state and its residents more susceptible to less than ideal treatment outcomes,” said Senator Vitale (D-Middlesex), Chair of the Health Committee. “This bill seeks to further address the workforce shortage, and represents one practical step we can take to help alleviate pressure across the New Jersey health care system as we staff-up to take on emerging health care challenges.”
In New Jersey, as in many other states, the shortage of health care providers has created a need for immediate and long-term solutions. This bill aims to address these ongoing shortages by codifying and extending the temporary provisions employed during the COVID-19 pandemic that allow out-of-state health care providers and recent graduates to practice while awaiting full licensure or certification.
The bill, S-3565, was moved out of committee by a vote of 5-0.
