Why do we need licensure?
- Certification (i.e., ASCP or AMT) is voluntary and not required by Texas or federal law. Licensure would help ensure persons performing moderate and high complexity tests on patient specimens are at least minimally qualified.
- A 2007 survey of Texas laboratory managers found that more than 1-in-4 MT’s and MLT’s were 55 or older. This survey also found vacancies for MT’s and MLT’s take 6 to 12 months to fill on average. As older lab professionals retire, more managers and directors will be pressured to hire non-certified staff. Since Texas is a non-licensure state, this is perfectly legal under CLIA alone.
- Persons fired for negligence or criminal behavior and individuals using aliases – there is no mechanism to keep such person from being employed by Texas laboratories because we are not a licensed profession in the state of Texas.
- Federal and state dollars are spent on recruitment and retention initiatives, loan forgiveness, and scholarships/stipends for LICENSED healthcare professionals that increase the number of graduates
TACLS Government Affairs
David Falleur, TACLS Government Affairs Committee
The TACLS Government Affairs committee’s primary mission is to assist our national, state, and local governments to develop policies on health care issues that affect our profession and the public. We develop grassroot campaigns to introduce and advance legislation that is pertinent to our profession. We also communicate with our elected officials at the local, state, and national level. An important opportunity for all ASCLS/TACLS members is participation in the annual Legislative Symposium in Washington, DC. Participants at the legislative symposium learn about the important issues that we need to share with our elected officials. For more information about the Legislative Symposium, go to https://www.ascls.org/advocacy-issues/legislative-symposium
David Falleur, TACLS Government Affairs Committee
The TACLS Government Affairs committee’s primary mission is to assist our national, state, and local governments to develop policies on health care issues that affect our profession and the public. We develop grassroot campaigns to introduce and advance legislation that is pertinent to our profession. We also communicate with our elected officials at the local, state, and national level. An important opportunity for all ASCLS/TACLS members is participation in the annual Legislative Symposium in Washington, DC. Participants at the legislative symposium learn about the important issues that we need to share with our elected officials. For more information about the Legislative Symposium, go to https://www.ascls.org/advocacy-issues/legislative-symposium
At the state and local level, TACLS members can meet with legislators and their staff to discuss policies and proposals that are important to our members and our patients. In the past we have supported legislation that would establish state licensure for medical laboratory professionals. We have also provided testimony in support of other allied health professions to maintain their licensure. On January 8, 2021, the Texas Society of Allied Health Professions will hold its annual legislative update conference. The meeting will be virtual and there is no registration fee. To register for the meeting, go to https://tsahp.org/legislation.html
If you are interested in getting involved, please contact David Falleur, davf3500@gmail.com
