SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2452

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Health & Long-Term Care, February 24, 2000

 

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 & Long‑Term Care:  2/23/2000, 2/24/2000 [DPA].

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

 

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Thibaudeau, Chair; Wojahn, Vice Chair; Costa, Deccio, Franklin, Johnson and Winsley.

 

Staff:  Joan K. Mell (786-7447)

 

Background:  The Department of Health has requested substantive and technical changes to its health care licensing statutes.

 

Summary of Amended Bill:  The exact same amendments in two separate sections are made to the hearing instrument fitter/ dispenser=s practice provisions. The provisions are duplicated to address different effective dates.  The procedures concerning surety bonds and securities are changed, notice requirements and other procedural requirements are stricken and terminology is amended to identify individual license holders rather than Aestablishments.@

 

The sale or transfer of ownership in registered adult family homes may not void the registra­tion automatically.

 

The department=s duty to provide for the administrative requirements for nursing homes that are temporarily without administrators is eliminated.

 

The licensing statute for psychologists is amended changing a reference to the Acommittee@ to the Aboard.@

 

Animal technician=s name is changed to veterinary technician.

 

Ambulance operator and director and aid vehicle operator and director are deleted from the definitions.  Ambulance service and aid service are added to the definitions.

 

The department expands its authority to grant a variance from the definition of physician=s trained emergency medical service intermediate life support technician and paramedic and the civil liability provisions relative to informed consent.

 

Ambulance operator and director and aid vehicle operator and director are deleted from the definitions.  Ambulance service and aid service are added to the definitions.  The department may revoke the service if it violates department rules.

 

The ambulance or aid vehicle license language is clarified consistent with the definition changes.

 

The term Aalcoholic@ is replaced with the term Achemically dependent person.@

 

The department adds language identifying it as the department licensing private institutions caring for mentally ill or chemically dependent people.  A provision is added authorizing the Department of Health to establish rules for the licensing, operation, and inspections of these facilities.

 

The name of maternity homes is changed to birthing or childbirth centers, and the scope of the definition is expanded.  The term Alow-risk@ is added to the definition and defined to limit birthing centers to caring for essentially uncomplicated births.

 

There is a repealer for statutory provisions affecting multiple facility operators registration under adult family homes; acupuncture by osteopathic physicians= assistants; and the psychologist=s examining board.

 

Radiology technologists can perform procedures that penetrate the skin under the direct supervision of a physician.

 

Osteopathic physician assistants may perform acupuncture.

 

The state midwives association is added as part of the DOH regulatory process for birthing centers.

 

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Three amendments were added for radiology technologists, osteopathic physician assistants, and the state midwives association.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

 

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

 

Testimony For:  The department requests clarifying and technical changes to its statutes that are consistent with its current practices.  The bill is needed to implement changes to various provider provisions worked on by stakeholders over the interim.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  PRO:  Jeff Larsen, Washington Academy of Physician Assistant, WSMA; Nick Federici, Midwives Association; Ron Weaver, Department of Health; Gail McGaffick, Washington State Psychological Association; Lisa Thatcher, Washington Hearing Health Providers.