HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2452

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to making technical changes, wording updates, and other corrections to department of health statutes covering health professions and facilities.

Brief Description:  Making technical changes and corrections to department of health statutes.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cody, Parlette, Edwards and Hurst; by request of Department of Health.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  1/25/00, 2/2/00 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/11/00, 96-0.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate 3/1/00, 45-0.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Technical and housekeeping changes are made to the statutory chapters relating to the regulated health professions under the Department of Health (DOH).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Cody, Democratic Co-Chair; Parlette, Republican Co-Chair; Pflug, Republican Vice Chair; Schual-Berke, Democratic Vice Chair; Alexander; Campbell; Conway; Edmonds; Edwards; Mulliken; Pennington and Ruderman.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:

The Department of Health (DOH) regulates over 50 health professions and 33 categories of health care facilities.  The department is requesting minor revisions in a number of chapters to update terminology, make corrections, and eliminate obsolete provisions.

Summary of Bill:

Technical and housekeeping changes are made to the statutory chapters relating to the regulated health professions under the DOH.  Terminology is updated and obsolete requirements are eliminated.

Licensed hearing instrument fitters/dispensers, certified audiologists, and permit holders must sign an affidavit verifying compliance with the requirement to hold a surety bond and the responsibility of the department to retain a copy of the licensee's surety bond is repealed.  A cash deposit or negotiable security in a banking institution can be substituted for a bond.  Up to 25 percent of practitioners may be randomly audited for the requirement of holding the surety bond or equivalent.  Duplicate sections are repealed. (Sections 1-4,42).

The requirement that adult family home providers must register separately for each home they operate is repealed, as the license is held by the operator not the home.  If the home is sold by the operator to another, the license lapses, and the buyer must apply for a separate license. (Section 5 and 41).

The authority of the Board of Nursing Home Administrators to address administrative requirements for nursing homes temporarily without administrators is repealed, as the administrator holds the license and the board has no jurisdiction over nursing homes. (Section 6).

Reference to the Examining Board of Psychology as a committee is changed, and its Sunset termination dates of June 30 of 2004 and 2005 are repealed. (Sections 7 and 41).

Reference to "animal technician" is changed to "veterinary technician". (Sections 8-15).

For emergency medical care, definitions of "ambulance operator," "ambulance director," "aid vehicle," and "aid director" are replaced by "ambulance service" and "aid service" respectively, and are conformed in the chapter.  Variances in statutory requirements for paramedics and intermediate life support personnel are permissible. (Sections 16-20).

Reference to "alcoholic" is changed to "chemically dependent person" in treatment establishments and institutions.  Licensees are required to conform to rules adopted by the department, and  the issuing of licenses are conditioned on an examination of all phases of its operation.  (Sec. 21-28).

The definition of "maternity home" is changed to "birthing center," and means a health facility that provides facilities and staff to support a birth service to low-risk maternity clients.  It replaces the definition as a place caring for up to four persons maintaining care during pregnancy and within 10 days after delivery.  Definitions of "low-risk" and "person" are also added.  (Sections 29-40).

The authority of osteopathic physicians' assistants to practice acupuncture is repealed, as persons practicing acupuncture are licensed as acupuncturists. (Section 41).

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): Technical and housekeeping amendments are added.  The  department must consult with the state midwives association in adopting rules on birthing centers.  In a section repealing the practice of acupuncture by osteopathic physician assistants, a savings clause is added permitting them to continue practicing as long as the physician assistant license is maintained.  The practice of diagnostic and therapeutic radiologic technologists is clarified to include parenteral procedures related to radiologic technology when performed under the direct supervision of a physician.  Renewal of a license to practice respiratory care is conditioned upon taking 36 hours of continuing education approved by the Secretary of Health every two years.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This is a request bill submitted on behalf of the Department of Health to update the terminology on a number of health professions practice acts.  It makes technical changes of a "housekeeping" nature, changing titles, repealing obsolete language, correcting terms, and generally cleaning up the chapters.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support) Ron Weaver, Department of Health.

(Support with amendment) Nick Federici, Midwives Association; and Jeff Larsen, Washington Osteopathic Medical Association and Washington State Residential Care Council.