Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts issued an executive order to extend previous executive orders made to facilitate hospital planning and to ensure additional healthcare workforce capacity, according to a Sept. 19 news release from the governor's office.
Healthcare staffing remains a critical issue in the state, and with the extension, Executive Orders 21-22 and 21-15 are effective through Dec. 31, 2022.
The governor originally issued an executive order on Aug. 26, 2021, that expanded the pool of healthcare professionals eligible to care for Nebraskans. The order authorized the credentialing of retired or inactive healthcare professionals, deferred certain continuing education requirements, and suspended various statutes to allow new healthcare providers seeking a license to begin practice in the state.
Another executive order was issued on Oct. 13, 2021, to increase access to healthcare services. It temporarily suspended various state statutes enabling healthcare facility administrators and practitioners such as audiologists, alcohol and drug counselors, and speech pathologists to more readily contribute their skills to the workforce.