* Background is here if you need it. During yesterday’s press conference, Isabel asked Gov. JB Pritzker about the troubles at the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation…
Isabel: Governor, IDFPR says it only has eight workers for processing licensing applications for 80 health-related professions. Why haven’t you budgeted more for application reviewers in this specific category in the budget?
Pritkzer: So we did. There are more than eight now, to be clear. There were eight at some point. But the truth is that as you’ve seen across state government over the last couple of years, it’s hard to hire. And so now we’re seeing the opportunity to hire more and more people.
So that’s happening. The process of bringing more people in as well as making sure that we have the software that’s necessary to process all of these things, that’s a procurement issue that I think we’re going to handle. But we’ve got to go back to the legislature and reduce some of the requirements around procurement because it’s just too onerous for most of the agencies to be able to procure the things they need, in particular around technology, which, as you know, needs to be upgraded every few years.
Isabel: Is that the holdup with the software? Is it a procurement issue? Are there steps that they still have to go through?
Pritzker: It’s the combination of being able to find, remember, we’ve got to have bidders for the software that we want, as well as having enough people to be able to run that once it’s installed. But those are both things that are working against us moving more quickly. Meanwhile, everybody’s working around the clock to try to get those licenses issued as fast as possible.
I followed up and was told that they’ve brought in two temp workers to help with processing the applications for those 80 health-related professions. The department, I’m told, is hiring more people, but its headcount is so far still limited to eight. I was also told that more processors will be hired with the new budget.
Discuss.
- Back to the Future - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:22 pm:
Really don’t understand the TeamPritzker approach here.
Traditionally just about the last group you want to offend are the nurse groups..
They have never been huge contributors, but they have always been well lead, are very smart folks, they know how to write letters, knock on doors and touch bases with the General Assembly.
Pretty sure this is not going to end well for Team Pritzker.
- Merica - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:25 pm:
Anytime you see something not functioning, this is the cause. I am not sure why the union isn’t more proactive in pushing this. An agency of about 300 people and only 8 do the processing work for healthcare. reminds me of dnr during the pandemic having only one person processing boat licenses.
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:27 pm:
State government, at least in IL, is very reactive which often means things reach crisis levels before anything is done to remedy situations. Bureaucratic red tape makes it very difficult for many State employees to do their job. It’s talked about often but rarely does anything change. And in my experience, there’s no software that DoIT can’t mess up. So the problem likely won’t end with the procurement process. Agencies run around putting out fires instead of performing any type of fire prevention.
- Carol Taylor - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:28 pm:
My cousin in Joliet sent in a Security license renewal in early February. The check cleared the bank this month May. He still has not received his renewal. The checks are not being processed on the day of receipt. Renewals are not processed in 100 days. What does their audit report look like? Not depositing checks on the day of receipt should be a finding. This fiasco of basic routine governance is going to require more than two temps. Perhaps the State should stop doing the function of Trade Associations all together.
- Leslie D. - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:33 pm:
The reality is technology is advancing in every sector at an advance pace now more than ever with AI. Leaders need to make processes more efficient like yesterday. This isn’t about hiring more people. It’s about streamlining processes with technology and retraining staff to work more efficiently and effectively. Working EVERY day on it til it’s done. Fintech has been around for a minute now. There is ZERO excuse. This is also why leaders with finance backgrounds are important. We’ve been using this technology for years. It’s obvious legislators, community advocates, applicants and even the Governor have done all they can at this point. You can’t make someone do their job. It’s time to make a change in leadership to get this resolved.
- been there done that - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:36 pm:
10 business days of trying to get a voice on the line, no answer ” we will attempt to call you back in 3 hours, if not call back tomorrow”.
not a phone number without a VM. Thanks for extending to June 30, just tell me what year……..
- Thinking - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:36 pm:
==there’s no software that DoIT can’t mess up.==
This one is on DFPR as they decided to proceed on own.
- Unionman - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:38 pm:
I wonder how long it will take CMS to approve the additional headcount…
- This is ridiculous... - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:41 pm:
It’s all meaningless unless they get the hiring process sorted out. You can’t post jobs and then have them take 18 months for interviews and offers.
- Tired - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:41 pm:
As someone who works for this agency. It is a complete mess. They don’t have money to buy basic equipment. They even messed up payroll a few months ago so some employees didn’t get paid for a couple of weeks. Good news is they keep adding politically connected directors and deputy directs instead of employees that actually do the work. SMH
- Glengarry - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:48 pm:
I worked there for a bit when Quinn was governor. That agency has an issue with hiring competent employees.
- context - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:50 pm:
So which healthcare professions are going to step up to the plate and offer to have their licensing fees raised to pay for more IDFPR staff? Can’t really talk about staffing unless we also talk about how IDFPR is funded.
- Rich Miller - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:59 pm:
===I worked there for a bit when Quinn was governor. That agency has an issue with hiring competent employees. ===
I get that you have experience and that’s what often makes this blog comment section so vital. However, Pat Quinn left office more than 9 years ago. Things can change. Not saying they have, just saying.
- Must win - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:11 pm:
- Rich Miller - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 12:59 pm:
===I worked there for a bit when Quinn was governor. That agency has an issue with hiring competent employees. ===
I get that you have experience and that’s what often makes this blog comment section so vital. However, Pat Quinn left office more than 9 years ago. Things can change. Not saying they have, just saying.
Things can change but in this case.
..they havent
- Steve Polite - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:15 pm:
“This one is on DFPR as they decided to proceed on own.”
Agreed, DoIT has master contracts with vendors that could build applications for IDFPR without having to go through procurement.
- H-W - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 1:49 pm:
It is good to hear the Governor indicate they are going to hire temporary workers. But two will not relieve the current pressure. I suggest creating a couple dozen student internships, whereby college students in related disciplines (political science, economics, sociology, social work, administrative sciences, etc.) could learn a great deal about state government and policies, and assist in righting the ship. Internships are by definition, temporary.
- SammyG - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 2:11 pm:
Tech is always going to need upgrades, but part of the procurement process should take upgrades into account - either evaluation of products for the expected lifespan before and upgrade is needed, or require the vendor to give free upgrades an a regular schedule.
- Candy Dogood - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 2:15 pm:
===I followed up and was told that they’ve brought in two temp workers to help with processing the applications for those 80 health-related professions.===
Cheers all around, they increased the headcount by 25% Fantastic! I’m sure the temporary hires are fully proficient.
===we’ve got to have bidders for the software that we want===
I love how good the Governor is at knowledgeably talking around the issue. When was the last time one of the vacancies for this kind of work posted? How many vacancies were posted? In the last 12 months how many times have they attempted to fill these positions? How many applicants were there?
If they want to fill positions, they actually have to post the jobs. After the post those positions maybe then they can try advertising them, but no posting, no applicants, no new hires.
===having enough people to be able to run that once it’s installed===
What is CMS telling the governor about SuccessFactors? They’ve been using that software for job postings for more than two years.
===Meanwhile, everybody’s working around the clock to try to get those licenses issued as fast as possible.===
So The Magnificent 8 are being allowed as much overtime as they want to work?
Around the clock usually means, well, around the clock. So, what does their overtime pay look like?
- winslowwilly - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 3:50 pm:
The backlog at IDFPR has been around for years. What will it take to make a change? Many states issue licenses quickly.
“The checks are not being processed on the day of receipt.” I always believed you want the money in the bank as quickly as possible. I had renewal applications take 6 months.
The problem is much greater than new software. The system is broken.
- Any Mouse - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 6:04 pm:
Let’s check in with CMS on their fumbling of most hires the last 5 months. Incompetent management is causing most agencies to bring in temps or 75 day hires.
As for software, DoIT is still involved regardless of what actual software DFPR wants. These 2 agencies are running 1-2 in least productive for the state of IL. It’s time to look into new management for each area or give the hiring/network back to each agency.
- AD - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 8:48 pm:
=== So which healthcare professions are going to step up to the plate and offer to have their licensing fees raised to pay for more IDFPR staff? Can’t really talk about staffing unless we also talk about how IDFPR is funded.===
Funding isn’t an issue here. Look at the fund balances and revenue vs expenditures trends. That’s not the issue at IDFPR. It’s the ability to spend those funds.
The license processing jobs are stepping stone jobs that people use to get their foot in the door with the State and then they leave 6-12 months for a higher paying position within the state that is a little more exciting than pushing paper through an antiquated IT system. Then hiring to replace those positions takes 6-12 months with the bureaucracy and the cycle keeps repeating itself.
Then getting the IT system off the ground takes years because of the bureaucracy. First you have to get it through the procurement process (good luck), then through DoIT, then you get a vendor that doesn’t understand State government working with State employees that don’t understand efficient business processes or IT (most lawyers aren’t specialists in operations management nor should they be expected to be, but that’s the position they’ve been hired for).
It’s been the same problem under Quinn as it was under Rauner as it is now under Pritzker (I worked under all three).
…And hiring two temp workers is an interesting answer. While it may help, it’s using a spoon to dig a ditch. More needs to be automated, so people have minimal involvement in the process since the volume is so large.
- halving_fun - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 10:35 pm:
Rauner’s cronies were at the heart of doit in it’s creation, they then have spread to several agencies even under pritzker, continuing to wreak havoc