CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

 

                   ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 6054

 

                               

 

 

                        52nd Legislature

                      1992 Regular Session

Passed by the Senate March 8, 1992

  Yeas 35   Nays 11

 

 

 

President of the Senate

 

Passed by the House March 6, 1992

  Yeas 91  Nays 5

               CERTIFICATE

 

I, Gordon Golob, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 6054 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

 

 

 

Speaker of the

       House of Representatives

                                 Secretary

 

 

Approved Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.

                                     FILED

          

 

 

Governor of the State of Washington

                        Secretary of State

                       State of Washington


                  _______________________________________________

 

                            ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 6054

                  _______________________________________________

 

                              AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

                     Passed Legislature - 1992 Regular Session

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

 

By Senators L. Smith, Bauer, Johnson, Murray, von Reichbauer, Snyder, Metcalf, Conner, Thorsness, Vognild, Sutherland, Jesernig, M. Kreidler and Pelz

 

Read first time 01/13/92.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.Modifying the chiropractic practice act.


     AN ACT Relating to chiropractic; amending RCW 18.25.005 and 18.25.006; adding a new section to chapter 18.25 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.      This act is intended to expand the scope of practice of chiropractic only with regard to adjustment of extremities in connection with a spinal adjustment.

 

     Sec. 2.  RCW 18.25.005 and 1974 ex.s. c 97 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

     ((For the purpose of chapters 18.25 and 18.26 RCW, the term "chiropractic" shall mean and include that practice of health care which deals with the detection of subluxations, which shall be defined as any alteration of the biomechanical and physiological dynamics of contiguous spinal structures which can cause neuronal disturbances, the chiropractic procedure preparatory to, and complementary to the correction thereof, by adjustment or manipulation of the articulations of the vertebral column and its immediate articulations for the restoration and maintenance of health; it includes the normal regimen and rehabilitation of the patient, physical examination to determine the necessity for chiropractic care, the use of x-ray and other analytical instruments generally used in the practice of chiropractic:  PROVIDED, That no chiropractor shall prescribe or dispense any medicine or drug nor practice obstetrics or surgery nor use x-rays for therapeutic purposes:  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the term "chiropractic" as defined in this act shall not prohibit a practitioner licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW from performing accepted medical procedures, except such procedures shall not include the adjustment by hand of any articulation of the spine:  AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the rendering of dietary advice.))

     (1) Chiropractic is the practice of health care that deals with the diagnosis or analysis and care or treatment of the vertebral subluxation complex and its effects, articular dysfunction, and musculoskeletal disorders, all for the restoration and maintenance of health and recognizing the recuperative powers of the body.

     (2) Chiropractic treatment or care includes the use of procedures involving spinal adjustments, and extremity manipulation insofar as any such procedure is complementary or preparatory to a chiropractic spinal adjustment.  Chiropractic treatment also includes the use of heat, cold, water, exercise, massage, trigger point therapy, dietary advice and recommendation of nutritional supplementation except for medicines of herbal, animal, or botanical origin, the normal regimen and rehabilitation of the patient, first aid, and counseling on hygiene, sanitation, and preventive measures.  Chiropractic care also includes such physiological therapeutic procedures as traction and light, but does not include procedures involving the application of sound, diathermy, or electricity.

     (3) As part of a chiropractic differential diagnosis, a chiropractor shall perform a physical examination, which may include diagnostic x-rays, to determine the appropriateness of chiropractic care or the need for referral to other health care providers.  The chiropractic disciplinary board shall provide by rule for the type and use of diagnostic and analytical devices and procedures consistent with this chapter.

     (4) Chiropractic care shall not include the prescription or dispensing of any medicine or drug, the practice of obstetrics or surgery, the use of x-rays or any other form of radiation for therapeutic purposes, colonic irrigation, or any form of venipuncture.      (5) Nothing in this chapter prohibits or restricts any other practitioner of a "health profession" defined in RCW 18.120.020(4) from performing any functions or procedures the practitioner is licensed or permitted to perform, and the term "chiropractic" as defined in this chapter shall not prohibit a practitioner licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW from performing medical procedures, except such procedures shall not include the adjustment by hand of any articulation of the spine.

 

     Sec. 3.  RCW 18.25.006 and 1991 c 3 s 36 are each amended to read as follows:

     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

     (1) "Department" means the department of health.

     (2) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of health or the secretary's designee.

     (3) "Chiropractor" means an individual licensed under this chapter.

     (4) "Board" means the Washington state board of chiropractic examiners.

     (5) "Vertebral subluxation complex" means a functional defect or alteration of the biomechanical and physiological dynamics in a joint that may cause neuronal disturbances, with or without displacement detectable by x-ray.  The effects of the vertebral subluxation complex may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:  Fixation, hypomobility, hypermobility, periarticular muscle spasm, edema, or inflammation.

     (6) "Articular dysfunction" means an alteration of the biomechanical and physiological dynamics of a joint of the axial or appendicular skeleton.

     (7) "Musculoskeletal disorders" means abnormalities of the muscles, bones, and connective tissue.

     (8) "Chiropractic differential diagnosis" means a diagnosis to determine the existence of a vertebral subluxation complex, articular dysfunction, or musculoskeletal disorder, and the appropriateness of chiropractic care or the need for referral to other health care providers.

     (9) "Chiropractic adjustment" means chiropractic care of a vertebral subluxation complex, articular dysfunction, or musculoskeletal disorder.  Such care includes manual or mechanical adjustment of any vertebral articulation and contiguous articulations beyond the normal passive physiological range of motion.

     (10) "Extremity manipulation" means a corrective thrust or maneuver applied to a joint of the appendicular skeleton.  The use of extremity manipulation shall be complementary and preparatory to a chiropractic spinal adjustment to support correction of a vertebral subluxation complex and is considered a part of a spinal adjustment and shall not be billed separately from or in addition to a spinal adjustment.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 18.25 RCW to read as follows:

     All state health care purchasers shall have the authority to set service and fee limitations on chiropractic costs.  The health care authority shall establish pilot projects in defined geographic regions of the state to contract with organizations of chiropractors for a prepaid capitated amount.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.      This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.