About the Health Occupations Program
Mission:
To protect the citizens of Minnesota by regulating practitioners of specified allied healthcare occupations to assure they meet professional standards and provide safe and competent services to consumers
Scope
The Health Occupations Program is a section in the Compliance Monitoring Division of the Policy Quality & Compliance Bureau. The Health Occupations Program has policy analysis, credentialing, investigation and enforcement authority for a number of allied healthcare occupations. Most Health-related occupations are regulated by separate licensing boards located at the Health Licensing Boards.
Our Activities
Policy Analysis:
- Review applications for regulation from unregulated human service occupations and report recommendations to the legislature.
- Evaluate existing regulatory schemes for human service occupations and report recommendations to the legislature.
- Develop rules and legislation to establish and amend regulations for health-related occupations.
Credential occupations:
- Examine applicants
- Identify qualified practitioners
- Staff advisory councils
- Monitor and approve continuing education programs and credits
- Provide public information and education.
Investigation and Enforcement
- Receive consumer/client complaints.
- Investigate allegations of illegal conduct.
- Take disciplinary action through administrative proceedings, and refer to criminal authorities when appropriate.
- Develop consumer brochures describing legal rights.
Activity Description:
From 1985 to 1990 the Health Occupations policy analysis activity was responsible for administering the process through which human service occupations could become regulated by the state; the 1990 Legislature eliminated funding for the review process effective July 1, 1990. The occupations reviewed, the commissioners recommendations made to the legislature and the results of legislative activity can be viewed at Reviews of Health Related Occupations 1985-1990
The activity first assumed responsibility for regulating speech-language pathologists, audiologists and hearing instrument dispensers in 1989. In F.Y. 1991, the activity assumed responsibility for regulating unlicensed mental health practitioners. From 1994 to June 2005 the activity was responsible for establishing and then administering a licensing system for alcohol and drug counselors. In July 2005, the office of unlicensed Mental Health practitioners and the alcohol and drug counselor licensing system was transferred to the Health Licensing Boards. Current credentialing activities include administering a licensing system for speech-language pathologists and audiologists, a licensing system for occupational therapy practitioners, a certification system for hearing instrument dispensers, and conducting consumer protection and information programs for purchasers of hearing aids and clients of unlicensed mental health practitioners and unlicensed alternative and complimentary health care providers. In addition the activity maintains a registry for doulas and a roster for spoken language health care interpreters. In 2010 the activity assumed responsibility for establishing a licensing system for body artists (tattooists and piercers) and for body are establishments.
In support of each credentialing system, the activity establishes and convenes advisory councils and committees comprised of practitioners and public members. The activity also administers written and practical examinations for hearing instrument dispensers and alcohol and drug counselors.
The regulation of speech-hearing occupations involves receiving and investigating complaints from potential and actual purchasers of hearing aids and taking enforcement action against dispensers in appropriate cases. This function and the consumer hearing aid information program are supported by fees paid by applicants for certificates. The regulation of occupational therapy practitioners, speech language pathologists, audiologists and alcohol and drug counselors is also supported by fees. The investigation of complaints and enforcement actions against unlicensed mental health practitioners and unlicensed complimentary and alternative health care practitioners is supported by a general fund appropriation.
Though the activity no longer conducts occupational analysis reviews, the activity continues to provide information, technical assistance and advice on state regulation of health personnel to the legislature, members of occupations, other state agencies, members of the public, and other jurisdictions.
The authority for this Activity is found in Minn. Stat. 214.025, 214.13, 146A, 148.511 to 148.5196, 148.6440 to 148.6450 and 153A
Activity Objectives
- Regulate audiologists, speech-language pathologists and hearing instrument dispensers by issuing credentials to applicants and receiving and investigating consumer complaints against practitioners.
- Regulate Occupational Therapy Practitioners by issuing licenses to applicants and receiving and investigating consumer complaints.
- Investigate complaints and take appropriate enforcement action against unlicensed complimentary and alternative health care practitioners.
- Operate a consumer information center for potential and actual purchasers of hearing aids.
- Convene meetings of occupational advisory councils and committees related to each occupation regulated by the activity.