KID RISES TO CHALLENGES
By : Commissioner Vicki Schmidt
You may recall the Department ’ s challenges in getting prospective agents licensed at the start of the pandemic - testing centers were shut down , law enforcement agencies would not accept appointments for fingerprints , and everything was a complete mess .
Over the past 18 months , the Department has worked to make operations better and more efficient . Not only was Kansas the first in the nation to get producer licensing exam facilities reopened , but we expanded the number of testing centers available to applicants .
We were one of , if not the first , state agency to have all employees back in the office full-time and continue operating safely to serve Kansans . We have equipped our entire staff with laptops rather than desktops to continue operations efficiently , no matter the circumstances .
In the last column , I shared updates on the implementation and efficiencies of SB 37 , producer licensing reform , and now I ’ m excited to share even more great news ! By the time this column hits your mailbox , digital fingerprinting will be available for most of our PearsonVUE testing sites . It will further streamline the licensing process and create a one-stop-shop for many applicants .
Some of these changes have required a lot of work on the Department ’ s part , but they were essential changes . You all must innovate in your businesses every day or face getting left behind . It was time the Department rose to the occasion to better , more efficiently serve you .
Far too often government , because it has no competitor to make it better , is satisfied with the status quo . I ’ m not satisfied with doing the minimum , and I will continue to do everything I can to have an effective and efficient insurance department .
It ’ s an honor to serve you , and if you need anything or have other ideas on how to make things better , please do not hesitate to reach out .
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt is both a lifelong Kansan and Republican . She worked for more than 40 years serving Kansas families and seniors as a local pharmacist . It was her pharmacy experience and commitment to bettering Kansas that drew her to run for the Legislature . Vicki became the voice for reform . She represented Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties for 14 years , including six as the Chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee . On Nov . 6 , 2018 , Vicki was elected as Kansas Insurance Commissioner . She became the first pharmacist to serve as Kansas Insurance Commissioner and is the only pharmacist in America to hold a statewide office .
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