The Michigan Senate is expected to vote on Tuesday on a bill to help relieve a health worker shortage by temporarily recognizing out-of-state professional licenses.
The health worker shortage created by COVID-19 is so dire, there’s probably no one thing that can fix it.
Republican Senator Curt VanderWall is a bill sponsor who also chairs the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee.
He says every hospital system in the state is short-staffed and workers are stressed.
“They’re burning the candle at both ends. We’re just trying to help them a little but so they don’t burn out.”
The bill would recognize out-of-state licenses until the health care crisis has passed. Then, the previous licensing rules would be reinstated.
The bill has bipartisan support. VanderWall says he’d like to have bills on Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s desk before the end of the year.