Thread by @NiskanenCenter

NEW REPORT from @Robert_t_Orr: Health care occupational licensing in the U.S. is more pervasive, burdensome, and restrictive than in Europe. The consequences are being felt across our country. #OccupationalLicensing #Health niskanencenter.org/u-s-health-car…

First, more entry and mid-level workers must be licensed in the U.S. For example, while most European countries license physical therapists, they don’t require physical therapy aides and assistants to have licenses. The U.S. does.

Licensing is also more burdensome and expensive for individual health care professionals in the U.S. Compare the requirements for an advanced practice nurse in the U.S. versus one in Sweden.

An advanced practice nurse may expect to pay well over $15,000 in licensure-related fees. A nurse in Sweden will pay approximately $86.

Health professionals who move must undergo an additional round of licensure and must provide additional documentation from each board they were previously licensed under (with additional fees assessed by both the new and previous boards).

Moving to a position in another state requires paying fees, filling out extensive paperwork, and possibly meeting numerous other burdensome requirements, including exams or an interview with the state board.

In the best of times, cross-state licensing requirements put individuals and our economy at a disadvantage. In the middle of a pandemic, that means that hard-hit areas won’t get the help they need.

In response to COVID-19, some states temporarily lifted or streamlined licensing requirements. That states were comfortable with this makes one wonder how necessary the requirements were in the first place. niskanencenter.org/states-are-tem…

In conclusion, licensing reform in the U.S. could go a long way toward improving the lives of health care workers, lowering the cost of our health care system, and making sure that qualified professionals can practice where they are needed most.

May be of interest to: @capturedecon, @hamiltonproj, @CSOR_SFU, @ConorNorrisCSOR, @mercatus, @RyanDNunn, @senatorshoshana, @RSI, @dr4liberty, @walterolson, and @EricBoehm87.