Prioritize licensing reform for health and economic recovery

For months, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended daily life and inflicted enormous human and economic costs. However, amid this unprecedented challenge, there have been a few bright spots worth highlighting, from neighbors volunteering to help one another to local organizations stepping up to meet the needs of their community.

One of the most encouraging responses to the pandemic has been the willingness of policymakers at every level of government to suspend unnecessary regulations that made it harder for medical professionals to serve or for businesses to operate. Now, as communities begin to reopen and seek to recover economically, it is more important than ever to remove the barriers that would inhibit those efforts while still protecting the public if the virus reemerges in the fall. Though there are many examples of unnecessary regulations that would hinder an economic recovery, occupational licensing restrictions should be at the top of the list.

Suspension or relaxation of occupational licensing restrictions was among the first action policymakers took to ensure a quick and effective response to the pandemic. So far, 35 states have allowed out-of-state medical personnel to receive temporary licenses to work in their jurisdictions. Furthermore, 31 states waived or modified certain licensing requirements, and 25 states allowed inactive or retired licensees to practice legally.

These were commonsense reforms that boosted healthcare capacity across the country at a time when it was most needed and should be continued for the duration of the pandemic. In addition to the changes for medical professionals, states should now consider broader reforms to occupational licensing restrictions as businesses reopen and people return to work.

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