AHCA/NCAL recently led a workforce coalition of long term care providers letter to the Department of Labor (DOL) requesting the agency to take specific actions to help an industry with a workforce crisis. The DOL long ago recognized registered nurses and physical therapists as a shortage occupation for purposes of the permanent residence immigration process, designating those two occupations as “Schedule A." While petitioning employers of registered nurses and physical therapists get to bypass the “PERM" labor certification process, employers must still obtain a prevailing wage determination from the DOL. The coalition is requesting from DOL a more streamlined process for wage determinations for registered nurse and physical therapist positions. The full letter is available to read here.