Medical & dental groups share concerns on ‘universal licensure’ bill in Senate

By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

In a Monday morning meeting of the Government Organization Committee, senators debated “universal licensure” in the form of a bill requested by Gov. Patrick Morrisey. The bill would guarantee license transfer for certain licensed professions (such as lawyers, doctors, nurses, accountants, engineers, and more) when people move to West Virginia from another state where they were already licensed. 

Dr. Edward Timmons, a professor of economics at Wests Virginia University, testified in favor of the bill. 

“Occupational licenses do not work like driver’s licenses do,” he shared with senators. “If you’re licensed as a doctor or engineer or barber, it is generally not easy to move from Ohio and begin working in West Virginia. Workers will often face significant delays. They also might have to undertake additional education or training.”

 He said that the state already has a similar process in place for HVAC and electrical workers and should consider it for an expanded pool of professionals. 

“Universal recognition is the best way of addressing the significant friction workers encounter when they move from one state to another,” he said. “The majority of states, 26, have already enacted this type of reform. Seventeen of 26 have the version West Virginia is currently considering.”

Dental board shares concerns

Dr. Bill Klenk, a dentist in Fayette County and President of the Board of Dentistry, testified before the committee next. While he expressed support for the bill generally, he asked that dental professionals be excluded from the bill or that changed be made for dental professionals. 

“Dental surgery has high risk,” Klenk told senators. In addition to the higher education requirements dentists must complete, “over 80% of states require a hand skill exam.” He said this was to ensure they had the skill to complete sensitive dental work in the cramped space of a person’s mouth.  

Since all states don’t require the hand skill exam, according to Klenk, this bill could lead to licenses being issued to dentists who have not proven they can apply their knowledge as a skill with a patient. 

Sen. Mike Woelfel (D, Cabell) proposed an amendment to retain the hand skill exam for all dentists moving to West Virginia. Senators defeated the amendment on a voice vote. 

Board of Medicine also concerned 

Senators next turned to Mark Spangler, Executive Director of the West Virginia Board of Medicine, for his feedback on the bill. 

“Our board reviewed this quite carefully,” he began. “We’re supportive of license portability. We do have concerns about the language of this bill.”

His concern, like Klenk, rested with training from other states. “(It) lowers the standard and exposes the patients of West Virginia. We’re concerned about physicians coming to our state who haven’t completed their training.” An example was given of physicians completing overseas medical training, moving to a state such as California for one year, and then applying for a license in West Virginia, perhaps before actually completing their full training. 

Woelfe proposed another amendment to close the potential loophole of a doctor receiving training overseas and gaining licensure before completing their training. 

“Who wants to lower the medical standards for our patients in West Virginia?” Woelfel asked rhetorically. “I want this debate. I ask for the yeas and the nays.” 

Asking for the yeas and nays is a motion which requires senators to record their vote publicly. Committee Chairwoman Sen. Patricia Rucker (R, Jefferson) conferred with her counsel and colleagues following Woelfe’s motion, before returning to the microphone and calling on her Vice Chairman, Sen. Jack David Woodrum (R, Summers), for a motion. 

Woodrum moved that SB458 be laid over to a future meeting. Rucker then explained that the committee was running out of time and would return to consideration of the bill at a later date. 

The bill is on the agenda for the Tuesday meeting of the committee. Stay tuned to RealWV for updates on universal licensure this legislative session.