Health Care Law Blog

Recommendation: Deregulation of 18 Occupations and Elimination of 9 Occupational Boards

On April 16, 2012, the Office of Regulatory Reinvention (“ORR”) issued a report to Governor Snyder proposing the deregulation of 18 occupations and the elimination of 9 occupational boards.  Of particular interest to Michigan health care providers are the recommendations for deregulation of dieticians and nutritionists; ocularists; respiratory care providers; and speech pathologists.  The report also recommended elimination of the following, health-care relevant occupational boards: Board of Dietetics and Nutrition, Board of Occupational Therapy, Board of Respiratory Care, Board of Speech Language Pathology, and Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Board.

According to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (“LARA”), the ORR’s recommendations will continue to protect the public while streamlining government licensing processes.  In addition, they will increase competition in the affected occupations and lower the costs for consumers.  Finally, the recommendations will also encourage business growth and job creation.  The ORR and LARA are now working together towards implementing the recommendations. 

If you have any questions with regard to how the ORR’s recommendations may affect your health care practice, please contact one of the experienced health care law attorneys at Foster Swift.

Categories: Licensing, Regulatory