(ST PAUL, MN) – As Minnesota gets ready for a surge in hospital patients due to COVID-19, one tool Gov. Walz has not yet activated is implementing the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which would allow nurses and other healthcare workers to immediately be licensed to work on our state as long as they are licensed in their home states.
“We need to do everything possible to give hospitals the flexibility necessary to adequately deal with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake). “Gov. Walz is wisely preparing for a surge in patients but so far has not implemented this important step to allow Minnesota to bring in needed healthcare workers from other states. Now is the time to do it.”
“We want to make sure we are prepared and ready for any foreseeable event,” said Senator Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake). “This may be necessary, especially if a hot spot develops in Minnesota. We hope and pray that is not the case, but it’s prudent to look ahead in case the need arises.”
Gov. Walz has not responded to a March 20th letter from Senator Michelle Benson, Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, requesting he take this action. In her letter, Sen. Benson also noted Minnesota Statute § 12.42 and Article 5 of Minnesota Statute § 192.89 both permit the state to recognize a license issued to a professional by another state in a time of declared emergency.
“All Gov. Walz has to do is ask for help,” said Benson. “Now is not the time to hold back resources from our hospitals.”