FINAL BILL REPORT
HB 1378
C 44 L 21
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Concerning the supervision of medical assistants.
Sponsors: Representatives Ybarra, Cody and Dolan.
House Committee on Health Care & Wellness
Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care
Background:

The Department of Health licenses four different types of medical assistants:  medical assistants-certified, medical assistants-registered, medical assistants-phlebotomist, and medical assistants-hemodialysis technician.  Each type of medical assistant must be supervised by a health care practitioner, including a physician, an osteopathic physician, a podiatric physician, a registered nurse, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, a naturopath, a physician assistant, or an optometrist.  In most cases, the health care practitioner must be physically present and immediately available.  The health care practitioner does not need to be present during procedures to withdraw blood, but must be immediately available.

Summary:

During a telemedicine visit, supervision over a medical assistant assisting the health care practitioner with the telemedicine visit may be provided through interactive audio and video telemedicine technology.

Votes on Final Passage:
House 96 0
Senate 49 0
Effective:

April 14, 2021

July 1, 2022 (Section 2)