JEFFERSON CITY, MO (Dec. 10, 2015) Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. The audit found the board does not have procedures in place to confirm certification requirements are being maintained, which includes various continuing education and training requirements. As part of the license renewal process, the application asks whether the applicant has met those requirements, but the board relies on the applicant’s attestation to confirm whether requirements were met, and does not require any documentation or proof.
“The Board of Healing Arts oversees thousands of health professionals across the state of Missouri,” Auditor Galloway said. “Missourians depend on the services of these professionals, but they also depend on the board to ensure these individuals have met all appropriate and necessary requirements to meet the demands of their profession. That’s why I’m recommending a review of the licensing renewal and certification requirement procedures, to ensure patients are receiving safe and effective treatments from properly licensed, well-trained individuals and businesses.”
Auditors also found the board had not established adequate procedures to protect against data security risks by ensuring only proper personnel have access to computer systems containing confidential licensee information. Auditors found that an employee terminated more than nine years ago still had an active user account, and 15 temporary user accounts were still active, despite not being used for at least the past two years.
The complete report of the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, which received a performance rating of “good,” can be found here.
