#NLCYES
WE CAN ALL DO THIS!
Case Management Society of America-Chicago is working intensely to get Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) passed in Illinois. The compact will allow Illinois nurses to practice across state lines without getting a new license in each state as long as they reside in a compact state and practice in compact state.There are currently 34 states that are part of compact. CMSA-Chicago continues to actively partner with the American Nurses Association and National Council of State Boards of Nursing to pass compact. Additionally, there are numerous patient safety groups and nursing organizations who are also in favor of NLC passage. NLC passage is key to Illinois nurses being able to practice modern health care, through telehealth, across state borders. It is also critical for Illinois residents to have proper access to medical care. Illinois residents deserve to not only have access to Illinois nurses via telehealth, but also have access to nurses across the country. The majority of Illinois nurses are age 55 or over or have some form of disability. These nurses often are no longer able or interested in performing the physical requirements of in-person nursing. However, these nurses are ideally suited to share their nursing skills via telehealth practice. NLC also helps in addressing health care disparities. Communities who have historically received sub-par care deserve access to the best and brightest nurses across the country and not simply whatever nurses may be available in their hometown.
Our call to action for you is to contact your state senator and representative and tell them you want to see Illinois pass the Nurse Licensure Compact. We have been trying for about ten years to get NLC passed in Illinois. It failed in Illinois in 2020, mostly due to highly organized opposition from National Nurses United IL chapter. The union opposes NLC because they feel that allowing border state nurses, which are part of NLC, will more easily allow hospitals to use border nurses to break strikes at hospitals near Illinois borders. This has proven to be not accurate. The fact is union nurses make up about 20% of nursing work force. We have found that many union nurses also support NLC because they realize it exponentially increases their employment opportunities. Union nurses, and non-union nurses, will possess 35 nursing licenses, instead of just one, if Illinois passes NLC. It will also exponentially increase care available to Illinois residents, especially those living in “health care deserts.” These patients will have access to nurses in 35 states instead of only having access to nurses that may be available in their community. Please consider being a member of CMSA Chicago and help us in passing NLC and in helping us shape other health care public policy. You can reach out to John Heraty or Eric Bergman at the email address below for more information or to join our public policy committee.
CMSA Chicago Public Policy Committee: Colleen Morley
colleen.morley@cmsa-
CMSA Chicago Public Policy Committee: Eric Bergman, RN,CCM
Do you need to know who your Illinois State Senator is? Click here to find your State Senator.
Please Use This To Contact Your Legislator
Support for the Nurse Licensure Compact - HB 1706 & SB 102
Dear [Legislator's Name],
I am writing to express my strong support for the adoption of the Nurse Licensure
Compact (NLC) in Illinois through HB 1706 and SB 102. As a [your role, e.g.,
healthcare professional, case manager, or constituent], I see firsthand how the current
licensing restrictions create barriers to care and exacerbate our nursing workforce
challenges.
Joining the NLC would:
Expand access to care by allowing nurses to practice across state lines without
additional licensure burdens.
Strengthen Illinois’ healthcare system by improving workforce flexibility,
particularly in telehealth and emergency response.
Reduce administrative burdens for nurses and healthcare organizations,
enhancing efficiency and patient care.
Thirty-nine states have already joined the NLC, ensuring their residents benefit from a
more agile, accessible nursing workforce. Illinois should not fall behind. I urge you
to support HB 1706 and SB 102 to enhance healthcare access, workforce mobility, and
patient outcomes in our state.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Please feel free to reach out if you have any
questions or need further insights on this critical issue.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Credentials, if applicable]
[Your Address or Organization, if relevant]
[Your Contact Information]
Do you need to know who your Illinois State Senator is? Click here to find your State Senator.
Find the State Senator’s information by clicking here.
