Senate Public Health committee hears confirmation hearings for nursing, medical examiners and nursing-home administrator boards

The Montana Senate Public Health Committee on March 28 held confirmation hearings for gubernatorial appointees to three professional licensing boards: SR 20 (Board of Nursing), SR 22 (Board of Medical Examiners) and SR 27 (Board of Nursing Home Administrators).

Hannah Slusser of the governor’s office and Sarah Swanson, commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry, appeared as proponents and asked the committee to confirm the nominees. Slusser described the board seats and the governor’s selections; Swanson said the appointments balanced geography and professional skill sets across the state.

For SR 20 (Board of Nursing) the governor submitted four appointees for confirmation, including Kristen McCauley, presented for the advanced practice registered nurse slot; Sarah Spangler, who said she serves as the board's presiding officer; Nicole Guay, a licensed practical nurse and the board's vice presiding officer; and Desmond Meisner, who provided written testimony and was noted as meeting the education/teaching experience requirement. The Board of Nursing consists of eight members: five registered nurses (with one having administration/education experience and one an advanced practice registered nurse), two practical nurses and one public member, the committee was told.

For SR 22 (Board of Medical Examiners) the governor submitted Camilla Joel Peterson and Ashley McGill. Swanson told the committee the medical board has 12 members representing multiple professions, including five doctors of medicine (no two from the same county), a doctor of osteopathy, a podiatrist, a nutritionist, a physician assistant, an emergency care provider and two public members.

For SR 27 (Board of Nursing Home Administrators) the governor submitted Wes Thompson, who told the committee he has spent his career in health care and long-term care and asked for confirmation. Department testimony noted the board licenses nursing home administrators and oversees roughly 393 administrator licenses as of late 2024.

Witnesses from professional associations supported the appointments. Jean Branscum of the Montana Medical Association rose in support of the medical board nominees; Rose Hughes of the Montana Health Care Association endorsed Wes Thompson for the nursing-home administrator board. No opponents appeared in the room on the record.

Committee members praised the geographic and professional diversity of the nominees and asked routine questions about qualifications. Several appointees and agency witnesses confirmed written testimony had been submitted when a candidate could not attend in person. The transcript does not show any committee confirmation votes during the hearing.