Regulatory News Roundup The latest news about regulatory agencies around the country
Almost 17% of U.S. Hospitals Experiencing Critical Staffing Shortages According to data posted by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services on Jan. 17 almost 17% of U.S. hospitals are reporting critical staffing shortages. The report, COVID-19
Reported Patient Impact and Hospital Capacity by State Timeseries, allows the viewer to configure the date, showing staff shortages by date and state. Becker's Hospital Review reported on Jan. 18 that 23% of hospitals reporting staffing levels expect shortages in the next week. Kan. Schools Declare Emergency—Ease Substitute Teacher Requirement Because of severe staffing shortages during the COVID pandemic, substitute teachers in Kansas no longer need college credit hours, under an emergency declaration; according to the Kansas City Star on January 12, the Kansas State Board of Education temporarily removed the minimum requirement of 60 semester credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university.
According to the Kansas City Star, the new rules for substitute teachers include: “candidates must: Be at least 18 years old; have a high school diploma (individuals with a GED are not eligible); have a verified commitment from a district for employment; pass a background check; and submit a completed application to the state education department.” The temporary measure expires June 1. Calif. Government Saves Millions Letting Office Leases Expire Due to Workers Staying Remote California’s Department of General
Services, managing about 14.4 million square feet of leased office space for the state, plans to relinquish about 767,000 square feet of space, according to Governingon Jan. 12. The state projects a savings from these changes of $22.5 million annually. In addition, the state expects to reduce leased office space by 20% over the next three years, saving the state about $84.7 million each year. Ohio Anti-Vax Doctor Wins School Board Race An Ohio doctor, who testified to lawmakers this spring in support of legislation to ban any vaccine mandates—not just COVID vaccine mandates—recently won a school board race in Ohio. Dr. Elizabeth Laffay, a licensed doctor of osteopathic medicine, won a seat on the Huron City School District Board of Education, according to the Ohio Capital Journal on Jan. 14. Laffay operates the clinic, the Elite Wellness Group; the clinic’s services on their website include the “emotional freedom technique” and “infrared sauna.” Other newsworthy items: 24 states must ensure healthcare workers are fully vaccinated by March 15, CMS says
Today! Self-Service Portal Webinar: How COVID Made Web Portals a Must Have
Still time to sign up! COVID forced government agencies to make changes, including offering additional self-service options. Self-service websites save your agency time and effort by giving those that your agency serves convenient options for: licensee look up, online renewals and online applications.
Sign up for our webinar for a demonstration and discussion of options for self-service through a web portal.
When: Jan 20, 2022 1:00 PM Mountain Time
Topic: Self-Service Portal Webinar; how COVID Made Web Portals a Must Have
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We look forward to seeing you.
In Case You Missed It
Breaking Down the Walls: Transitioning from Office to Remote Work: Find out what government agency employees said they found challenging and rewarding about the transition...KEEP READING
NC
Nursecast Predicts Need for Providers: The North Carolina Board of Nursing worked with a research team to develop an interactive online tool that predicts the supply of and demand for nurses across the state. It's powered by historical licensure data. Learn more on our website. Q&A with Lee McGrath of the Institute
for Justice: McGrath, the Institute's senior legislative counsel, talks regulatory reform. Check out the Q&A on our website. Automated Reports in GL Suite: The application
guides staff through investigations and inspections, automatically generating findings reports and corrective action plans. See a recording of our webinar on our website.
Q&A with CLEAR President, Colorado DORA Director Ronne Hines: Read her answers to a handful of questions about issues affecting
regulatory agencies, including the effects of the COVID pandemic, staff shortages and regulatory reform. Check out the Q&A on our website.
Should I accept payments for incomplete applications and renewals? Our Ask the Geek column shares the payment process solutions to do so.
Q: Should I accept payments for incomplete applications and renewals?
A: The answer to this question can usually be determined by an agency’s financial management process. Financial management may not always receive the attention it deserves within agencies, but a poor financial management system can, and has in the past, led to audits from the Secretary of State. KEEP READING
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