Including compact privilege information in a jurisdiction’s license lookup website can positively impact public safety and increase transparency and ease for stakeholders. This article is based on a 2024 webinar presented by Missy Anthony, Kathy Arney, and Charlotte Martin.
Licensure verification plays a fundamental role in public protection by confirming whether an individual is authorized to practice in a particular state. This process is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the profession and ensuring that only qualified individuals provide services to the public.
Regulators need to know who is working in their state. It is not just about licenses or even PT Compact privileges. For example, some states have rules that allow practitioners to work temporarily in the state to address critical healthcare shortages or to move temporarily due to a crisis. Other states have a registry that can be used solely for telehealth. Comprehensive workforce information is important to more than just regulators; it is valuable to insurance providers, employers or prospective employers, and the public.
Regulators need to provide stakeholders with easy access to licensure verification as part of the mission to protect the public. Different states use various approaches to licensure verification. Most states have a license verification or lookup page on their websites, providing multiple ways to enter information and obtain the necessary details about licensees. This transparency is vital for public trust and safety.
However, confusion can arise when a licensure lookup for PTs and PTAs only includes state licenses and directs people to an outside link to verify the status of PT Compact privileges and other types of qualifications for working in that jurisdiction. This extra step can be cumbersome. Few patients are going to know whether their practitioner holds a license or a compact privilege and also know how to look in the right place. The confusion can also generate additional emails and calls, which increases staff workload. Stakeholders want to have one link and one source of information to determine who is legally authorized to practice in the state. In some cases, insurance companies have refused to credential a compact privilege holder because they couldn’t verify the individual on the state’s license lookup page.
Ohio has implemented a shared e-licensing website that allows for the verification of licenses across multiple professions, including healthcare workers, architects, engineers, and accountants. The system also includes compact privilege holders, ensuring that all authorized practitioners are listed in one place. This simple interface reduces confusion and saves staff time responding to inquiries.
Real-time updates are important to ensure the quality of licensure verification. The information available to the public is current and accurate, which is particularly important for employers, insurance carriers, and other stakeholders who rely on this information for decision-making, billing, and reimbursement. One of the most valuable aspects of interstate compacts is the data sharing. States should leverage this to make their lookup systems more comprehensive, accessible, understandable, and accurate.
One way to include compact privileges into a main state database is to have staff enter them. However, manual entry can introduce human error, cause delays, and drain valuable and limited human resources. Instead, boards should consider transitioning to the API (Application Programming Interface). The API allows for the seamless transfer of data between the FSBPT and the state's licensing system, reducing mistakes and improving efficiency.
Ohio transitioned with the help of FSBPT. They now receive hourly information from the PT Compact, as well as timely, relevant disciplinary alerts. The system connects FSBPT ID, NPTE scores, Jurisprudence Assessment Module scores, and PT compact privilege information. The API is secure and potentially more secure than manual methods. It is also more accurate than manual entry.
The Louisiana Physical Therapy Board also faced challenges in manually updating compact privilege information and decided to implement the API to automate this process. The board wanted a timely “one-stop shop” for people to find out who can practice in Louisiana. However, administratively, this was not feasible to do in a timely and accurate manner. Fortunately, grant funding from the FSBPT facilitated this transition, making it easier for the board to adopt this technology without financial constraints. They now have a simple lookup system on their website.
Similarly, the North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners believes providing a publicly facing area on the website to verify all licenses and privileges to practice is important in public protection by allowing quick access to information. The North Carolina Board also used grant funding to implement the API to facilitate improving the quality and accuracy of information posted on the Look Up.
Several states are currently connecting to the API for PT compact privilege information, including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and North Carolina. Some states are continuing to investigate potential future enhancements. In Ohio, plans are underway to improve the clarity of compact privilege information on the shared licensing website.
Boards can consider adopting similar approaches in their states to enact real-time updates, accuracy, and transparency to maintain public trust and ensure public protection. The use of technology, such as APIs, has significantly improved the efficiency and accuracy of licensure verification processes, benefiting both the boards and the public. If boards aren’t sure where to start, they can leverage the Board Assessment Resource, which includes a variety of questions about board performance in public protection. This tool helps boards assess their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement in multiple areas, including licensure verification.
Improving a state’s licensure verification system is a clear demonstration of a board's commitment to public protection. By making licensure verification information easily accessible on their website, boards ensure that anyone with access to a computer can obtain this crucial information. It is essential that all stakeholders are aware of the availability of this resource and understand its significance. Whether the information is real-time or not, it is there for them to use and trust. Boards are often the only entities within their states that have 100% of this information, making them the most reliable source for licensure verification.
Missy Anthony has served as the 8th Executive Director of the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board since November 2017. Prior to her service with the Board, Missy worked for the Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio Governor John Kasich, as Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and lobbied on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities. A native of Akron, Ohio, she graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in political science and certificate in applied politics from the Ray C. Bliss Institute. She received her master’s degree in public administration from Ohio University. She is also a graduate of the JoAnn Davidson Leadership Institute.
Kathy Arney is a licensed physical therapist and current Executive Director of the North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (NCBPTE). Kathy is the current Chair of the PT Compact Commission and has been a Delegate and Officer since its inception in 2017. She has worked at NCBPTE for fifteen years holding a variety of positions with broad regulatory experiences, and she presents frequently at PT/PTA academic programs on regulatory topics, including state physical therapy law and rules, as well as exploring topics of common licensee practice violations. Kathy has also served on FSBPT committees and task forces, enhancing her knowledge and understanding of other jurisdictions, experiences, regulatory advantages, and challenges.
Charlotte Martin has served as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board since 2014. She has served as Chair of the FSBPT Close Relations Task Force, Council of Board Administrators (CBA), Board Assessment Task Force, and Foreign Educated Standards Committee. Charlotte currently serves as an Executive Board Member and Treasurer of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact Commission. She is a National Certified Investigator and Inspector through the Council on Licensure, Enforcement & Regulation (CLEAR). Charlotte received a baccalaureate degree from the Louisiana State University (LSU) College of Humanities & Social Sciences in 2004 and a master's degree in public administration from the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business in 2008.