Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

‘Rare’ solution heralded

Posted in:

Illinois

* As we discussed in September, Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) held a hearing to discuss “ongoing delays in licensure processing by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.” Morgan noted at the time that “The delays have led to many professionals, including nurses and other health care workers, as well as their employers, having to worry about their ability to keep working should their licenses lapse.”

IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. dropped a bombshell at the hearing, saying that after several months of attempting to purchase licensing software through a joint purchase master contract, the agency had given up…

Unfortunately, as we drill down into the very specific needs that have to be met, and how we may go about the process to obtain them, we have reached a point where we don’t think the joint purchase master contract will work. That has a development that happened this week. Just this Monday. And candidly we were quite disappointed with the news.

Treto promised he’d keep working on it.

* More from that September hearing from Hannah Meisel…

Daniel Stasi, a consultant with the Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association, noted he’s been the point person for licensing-related issues for 24 years.

“Very little has changed,” Stasi said in September. “The wait is actually longer.”

Illinois State Medical Society executive senior vice president David Porter told lawmakers that the most concerning aspect of IDFPR’s current licensing system is the “lack of transparency” from the agency.

“Applicants tell us that there’s no real way for them to obtain status updates on their applications or renewals, and there’s virtually no chance to be able to connect with someone at the department by phone or email who can provide such updates,” Porter said. “Most frustrating to new applicants is that they are rarely notified when their applicants are deemed to be insufficient or incomplete, which adds days or weeks to when they can expect to obtain a license.”

* Well, a legislative solution may have been found. From the synopsis of HB2394 as amended…

Provides that, if the Secretary of Professional Regulation finds that there is a significant operational need to do so or that it is necessary to do so to avoid undue hardship on a class of individuals whose professional licenses, registrations, or certificates are issued by the Department, then the Secretary shall extend the expiration date or renewal period of those licenses, registrations, or certificates of those individuals for a period not to exceed the standard renewal period of those licenses, registrations, or certificates. Provides that the Secretary may consider specified factors when determining whether to extend the expiration date or renewal period of the license, registration, or certificate of those individuals. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall identify a method of source selection that will make it possible to implement a software solution to support the Department’s mandates to enforce the professional licensing Acts that it administers and rules adopted under those Acts. Provides that the software solution selected by the Department shall satisfy specified criteria. Provides for additional requirements concerning the source selection process. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

* From the NASW-IL…

The National Association of Social Workers - Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL) expresses heartfelt gratitude to the Governor, esteemed members of the General Assembly, and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) for their collaborative efforts in successfully passing HB2394 during this veto session.

The challenges in accessing mental health professionals have been heightened by delays in licensure processes. The passage of HB2394 not only enables emergency rulemaking to address these delays but also introduces a streamlined procurement process for new software, a crucial step toward ensuring faster licensure and, consequently, a more robust workforce to facilitate increased accessibility to mental health services for the residents of Illinois.

Witnessing such a swift turnaround from a legislative hearing to a solution in state government is rare, underscoring the stakeholders’ determination to tackle the difficulties that fully qualified professionals encounter in obtaining licensure. Issues were identified, meetings were convened, and solutions with performance benchmarks were proposed and passed—this exemplifies government at its best. NASW-IL extends its appreciation to House Health Care Licensing Committee Chair Bob Morgan and the entire bipartisan work of that committee for prioritizing this critical fix.

Anticipating the positive impact of this legislation on the mental health landscape in Illinois, NASW-IL looks forward to witnessing the tangible benefits resulting from the collaborative efforts that have made this achievement possible.

* From Rep. Bob Morgan…

State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, has passed HB 2394, modernizing the process for professional licenses at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Both chambers passed the bipartisan legislation this week and Governor Pritzker is expected to sign this urgent measure.

The legislation is the House Democrats’ response to historic delays in license application processing at IDFPR. These delays have kept doctors, nurses, social workers, and many more licensed professionals from working, in some cases for up to 1 year, while they await IDFPR processing of their paperwork. “These unprecedented license delays have not only impacted our healthcare professionals, but have literally impacted healthcare delivery in Illinois,” said Rep. Morgan. “This committee has taken on tough challenges together – I am proud of the collaboration that produced this bill, and look forward to working with the administration to build a professional licensing system that models best practices and meets the modern needs of the people of Illinois. This legislation provides real solutions to an urgent problem, and does so on a defined timeline.”

The legislation requires IDFPR to implement a fully online professional licensing system through an expedited, competitive procurement process over the course of the next 6 months. While the Department updates the system, it is required to extend renewal deadlines and waive late fees so that no new applicants or renewing licensees have to worry about their licenses expiring solely because of department backlogs.

House Democrats first called attention to the licensing backlog in September, when a hearing of the House Health Care Licenses Committee heard from provider groups about the impacts of an antiquated, backlogged licensing system that still requires applicants to send in paper applications and paper checks.

* Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton…

“By updating the system IDFPR uses, we will help streamline the application process, connect people with good-paying jobs and alleviate workforce shortages,” said Glowiak Hilton. “This legislation is long overdue. By providing IDFPR with this support, we will move one step closer toward an effective and efficient licensure process for all Illinoisans.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:00 pm

Comments

This is not a new problem. The department has had audit findings going back to the early 2000s

https://www.auditor.illinois.gov/Audit-Reports/Compliance-Agency-List/DFPR/FY05-DFPR-FIN-COMP-full.pdf

Comment by Oldtimer Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:04 pm
IDFPR is an absolute mess. They are racing to take on dozens of new projects while dropping the ball left and right on the day to day operations. Their 2023 legislative agenda reads like a socialist manifesto. They have time for that but can’t renew licenses? Maybe focus on the job at hand.

Comment by Franklin Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:08 pm
===This is not a new problem===

Yes. True. In fact, that is actually noted in the post. Try reading before being Mr. Obvious. Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:12 pm
IDFPR blew this one big time on the purchasing side of things. They decided on a particular path that many cautioned them about.

Comment by Thinking Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:14 pm
The Professional Engineer portion of the IDFPR site/software works fine.

Comment by Cornerfield Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:18 pm
Both serious and snark, wasn’t DoIT supposed to fix such things? The audit being cited? The result of the 2002 ERI & John Filan’s sweeps of special funds. A double whammy.

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:28 pm
=== wasn’t DoIT supposed to fix such things? ===

DFPR insisted on doing this without DoIT assistance.

Comment by Thinking Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:38 pm
Kudos to the Secretary and staff, with the help of legislators, for cleaning up a decades old problem. This is a win. But let’s talk about their “socialist legislative agenda”. 🙄

Comment by FIREDup! Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:38 pm
Name a time where DoIT intervention actually made something better? Hard to do when Rauner created your agency.

Comment by umm Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:43 pm
DoIT is involved in any procurement involving technology. You don’t get to opt out of DoIT. If you know the secret of working around DoIT, do tell…

Comment by FIREDup! Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:49 pm
=== DFPR insisted on doing this without DoIT assistance. ===

Things must have changed under Pritzker, as that was almost impossible under Rauner.

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 1:11 pm
WAND reported on this last week. Surprised no one else picked it up until now.

Comment by Angel Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 1:12 pm
===If you know the secret of working around DoIT, do tell… ===

Read the post.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 1:15 pm
Rich, I meant in the actual procurement process. This required legislative workaround, which shouldn’t be necessary.

Comment by FIREDup! Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 1:35 pm
===which shouldn’t be necessary. ===

One step at a time. Maybe they can learn from this.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 1:40 pm
=== Read the post. ===

There is talk of “… a joint purchase master contract … .” Have the other parties ever been publicly identified? Is Illinois specific, or from another state?

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 1:52 pm
=== an antiquated, backlogged licensing system that still requires applicants to send in paper applications and paper checks. ===

Paper is to Springfield as Concrete is to Chicago. Maybe even more powerful. Both create jobs, but paperwork is the life blood of a bureaucracy.

Without paper, how could you require your employees to come into the office every day instead of working remote?

one employee can mess up the whole system by slowing down or speeding up paper work.

We can lose someone’s paper work altogether.

Paperwork makes it almost impossible to manage work flow or guage employee work load or productivity.

Maybe we should move professional licensing under the Secretary of State? They figured out online license renewals and payments 24 years ago.

Comment by Joe Pulitzer Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 2:00 pm
@Anyone Remember

That is just a contract that all state agencies and I believe local governments in Illinois can utilize. That is what that term means.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 2:19 pm
Reading the previous posts about IDFPR license renewal problems, I renewed my PE license a month ago. Was shocked when I received the new license over the weekend.

I wonder if the problems are related to the individual professional boards that control the licensing and renewal process.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 2:20 pm
Nothing has changed since I left back in 2009.

Comment by Glengarry Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 2:23 pm
Demoralized - Name of the vendor? Is the contract publicly available, or is access to The Procurement Bulletin required?

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 2:37 pm
What is not said is also the way that IDFPR employs its staff. They are not pooled. Each staff is funded by each board. If they do not budget for additional staff for specific boards, they do not hire the additional staff needed to accomplish their needs. Some of the professions recognized this problem and got minimum staffing requirements included in their acts. The downside is that if the staff of one board is being underutilized, they cannot help out the other boards.
What is also not mentioned is that there is a lot of merit comp. staff bloat at the top levels.

Comment by Unionman Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 3:01 pm
It wasn’t one of Rauner’s five things.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 4:03 pm
@Unionman –What is also not mentioned is that there is a lot of merit comp. staff bloat at the top levels.–

While I won’t disagree about a certain amount of bloat at top levels of IDFPR (a direct result of the consolidation of 3 agencies under Blago and creation of a new division under Rauner), merit-comp does not in any way relate to top level employment. All those merit comp employees at the mid to low-level (and they exist) went for a good 10 years without any increase in pay. That includes no cost of living increase. When Blago came into office, he froze all raises for merit comp. Quinn continued that, and Rauner gave very moderate increases. It is only under Pritzker that merit comp employees have seen any real increase. So, at IDFPR, merit comp employees were actually negative bloat.

As to the post, yes, IDFPR has never been swift in processing applications. But it has gotten much worse in the last couple years. Electronic licensing got off the ground under Rauner. And it looked like it would make things much better. But it turned out, as is often the case, the winning bidder for the software over-promised and way under-delivered. This required IDFPR to eventually back off. The other major factor is that there were two very experienced people, one with about 30 years of experience at the department, the other with about 15, who led licensing as a team for many years. They knew licensing backward and forward and could fix problems with backups and other hiccups with relative ease. The former retired and the later went to another agency about the same time. The agency just doesn’t have the historical knowledge it used to have. Along with the difficulty in hiring people in today’s economy, you now have the mess that currently exists.

Anyway, here’s hoping this legislation helps.

Comment by Shevek Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 4:05 pm
More Bob Morgans please. Assault weapons ban upheld by the conservative 7th circuit–legalized marijuana–and now streamling a broken professional licensure process,,and he works with republicans to get stuff done.

Comment by ANON Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 4:11 pm
I congratulate all those involved with getting this legislation passed. But… It doesn’t solve all the concerns. Great software won’t get the mail opened any quicker. It won’t get appointments made to licensure boards that are 1 year+ overdue. It won’t get revised rules drafted that are years overdue. It won’t get simple forms added to the website. Much, much more needs to happen. I hope it will.

Comment by Winslowwilly Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 4:29 pm
The Professional Engineer portion of the IDFPR site/software works fine.

True, the renewal process was fine. I currently cannot print my license as the software keeps looping back to the login page when I click on the pdf link.

Two steps forward…

Comment by Proud Sucker Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 4:30 pm
I temped (very briefly) at IDFPR for something related to this. The problem as described to me was that all the different boards/licensing agencies had their own incompatible systems and things got passed back and forth for weeks. The project I was assigned to was supposed to be fixing the initial processing issues. I was there very briefly, but let’s just say I have serious doubts about how well it was working.

Comment by Flamingo Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 7:07 am
Because it is the School Board elections that motivate people to vote.

If anything, dude, it may give Republicans a slight advantage because some groups will be spending money on the Chicago SB race and will not be able to spend that on statewide races for Democrats.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 11:39 am
This would be great, as I have been waiting to receive my license for 7 months now. Check was cashed, though!

Comment by LyLiu Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 10:12 am