On March 30, 2020 Governor Baker signed the "Maximizing Available Health Care Providers Order" which requires an expedited process for healthcare providers to get a license. This order includes respiratory therapists and would allow for any respiratory therapist who has a license in any other state to get a license here in Massachusetts for the duration of the state of emergency. A member of the MSRC spoke with the licensure department to ask if they have any update to this order as we are in a critical need of additional RTs in the state. Due to the limited staffing in the department due to the crisis, information provided was limited as they continue to sort through the requirements of the order and the required processes.
At this time there is no application in place for this expedited process. The licensure staff advised that this is being worked on as it also affects more than just the RT licenses. They are expecting to have a solution in place within days, not weeks. They have asked that we try and limit the calls/emails to the office as they are being required to limit the amount of staff in the office, responses are very delayed. The MSRC through the contact us page will gather questions and send them in batches to the licensure office.
Please be safe.
Jason Moury, MPH, RRT