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Reps. Mann, Neguse Introduce the SHARE Act, Address Health Care Workforce Shortage

March 1, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Joe Neguse (CO-02) led 11 of their colleagues in introducing the States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment (SHARE) Act. This legislation would improve the current licensing process for health care providers and increase the number of licensed providers able to serve communities across state lines. 

“Health care facilities and hospitals are experiencing extreme workforce shortages that are causing a considerable strain on our health care system, especially in our rural communities,” said Rep. Mann. “One way that we can address this shortage is to improve the licensure process for our current providers, who must obtain a unique license or certification from each state in which they practice. The licensure process can be burdensome and strips providers of the ability to practice in any new state until their application is approved – sometimes taking more than half a year. If we want to improve the health of those in the Big First, and in rural areas and communities around the country, we must expand employment opportunities and help expedite this licensure process for our providers.” 

“As Colorado’s former chief regulator, where I worked to break down administrative barriers to improve workforce development, I’m excited to join with Representative Mann in introducing the SHARE Act,” said Rep. Neguse. “This bill effectively addresses health care worker shortages by improving licensure processes for current providers, increasing health care employment opportunities, and expanding accessibility to critical care services.” 

“We applaud Representatives Mann and Neguse for the re-introduction of the States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment (SHARE) Act," said The National Rural Health Association. "This important legislation allows the FBI to share background checks across states lines. The ability to practice across state lines will allow healthcare providers in rural areas to travel where care is needed most and help alleviate workforce shortages.”

"The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association thanks Representatives Mann and Neguse for introducing the States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment (SHARE) Act," said 2023 ASHA President Robert M. Augustine. "ASHA strongly supports the implementation of the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC), currently adopted by 23 states to allow licensed audiologists and speech-language pathologists to obtain a privilege to practice across state lines in other ASLP-IC member states. The SHARE Act will ensure that member states of the ASLP-IC can receive important information so practice privileges can be issued to help increase access to care in underserved or geographically isolated populations through telepractice and help facilitate continuity of care when clients, patients, and/or students relocate or travel to another compact state. ASHA looks forward to working with Reps. Mann and Neguse to pass the SHARE Act." 

"I would like to thank Representatives Mann and Neguse for introducing the SHARE Act, which supports national efforts to create interstate licensure compacts in medical professions," said AOTA President Alyson Stover. "This legislation modernizes a vital component of the licensure process, allowing for greater cooperation between states, resulting in more healthcare professionals, not just occupational therapy practitioners, being able to serve patients across state lines to the greater benefit of people living in rural and underserved communities. The SHARE Act will dramatically increase access to services via telehealth, decrease licensure portability delays, and allow for the deployment of healthcare providers during times of national emergencies. I commend Rep. Mann and Neguse for their leadership in supporting the Occupational Therapy Interstate Compact, and all other compacts like it with the introduction of the SHARE Act." 

“The American Physical Therapy Association is grateful to Representatives Mann and Neguse for their sponsorship of the SHARE Act” said APTA Vice President of Public Affairs Aaron Bishop. “This important legislation will support efforts to modernize interstate practice by health care providers through the use of interstate compacts, which play a critical role in improving access to care in rural and underserved areas, reduce administrative burden for licensees, and preserve states’ rights in the licensure of providers. To date, the Physical Therapy Compact has been enacted in 33 states and D.C. improving licensure portability and interstate practice for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. The SHARE Act is critical to supporting the continued success of interstate compacts.” 

The SHARE Act would make a technical correction to modernize a vital component of the licensure process for health care providers by: 

Removing red tape and reducing administrative burden: This legislation authorizes the FBI to share criminal history record information between states for licensure purposes.  

Maintaining states’ rights to determine provider eligibility: This legislation allows cooperation between states while protecting each states’ authority to determine whether a provider is eligible to practice in the state.  

Addressing the workforce shortage: This legislation extends the reach of health care professionals, eliminating the time necessary for state-to-state checks, improving access to medical specialists, and leveraging the use of new medical technologies like telehealth. 

Click here to view the full text of the bill.

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