WSR 16-21-042
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed October 12, 2016, 9:21 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Proposal is exempt under RCW 34.05.310(4) or 34.05.330(1).
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 246-840-990, practical and registered nursing, fees and renewal cycle. Proposing fee adjustments to align licensing fee revenues with the actual costs of regulating these professions. The department is coordinating rule making with the nursing care quality assurance commission.
Hearing Location(s): Department of Health, Town Center 111 Israel Road, Building 2, Room 145, Tumwater, WA 98501, on November 30, 2016, at 1:00 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: December 7, 2016.
Submit Written Comments to: Nancy Elliott, P.O. Box 47850, Olympia, WA 98504-7850, e-mail https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/policyreview, fax (360) 236-4626, by November 30, 2016.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Nancy Elliott by November 16, 2016, TTY (800) 833-6388 or 711.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: It has been determined that current licensing fees will not generate sufficient revenue to cover the costs of administering and regulating nursing professions. The goal of the proposed fee adjustment is to align licensing fee revenues with the actual costs of regulating these professions, while bringing year-end fund balances to the level needed to cover unanticipated expenses over a ten year period. This proposal includes a fee reduction for nursing technicians and licensed practical nurses (LPN) because these credentials are less costly to administer than the other two credentials.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: RCW 43.70.250 requires the cost of each licensing program to be fully borne by the profession's members and licensing fees to be based on the licensing program's costs. Based on six year projections of fee revenue and expenses for each profession, using best available data, revenue from the current nursing profession fees are anticipated to lose pace with future expenditures. Without the proposed adjustments, the program's year-end reserves will fall below the recommended fund balance over a ten year period.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of health, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Nancy Elliott, 111 Israel Road, Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 236-4878; and Enforcement: Sherry Thomas, 111 Israel Road, Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 236-4612.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Under RCW 19.85.025 and 34.05.310 (4)(f), a small business economic impact statement is not required for proposed rules that set or adjust fees or rates pursuant to legislative standards.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The agency did not complete a cost-benefit analysis under RCW 34.05.328. RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vi) exempts rules that set or adjust fees or rates pursuant to legislative standards.
October 10, 2016
John Wiesman, DrPH MPH
Secretary
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 13-24-097, filed 12/3/13, effective 2/1/14)
WAC 246-840-990 Fees and renewal cycle.
(1) ((Applicants for a practical nurse license must pay the application fee, the LPN UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)*, and the nursing center surcharge fee when applying for a license. Licenses for practical nurse must be renewed)) A licensed practical nurse (LPN) or a registered nurse (RN) must renew his or her license every year on the ((practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2. Practical nurses must pay the renewal fee, the HEAL-WA fee, and the nursing center surcharge fee when renewing licenses)) licensee's birthday.
(2) When applying for a license an applicant((s)) for ((a registered nurse)) an initial or renewal LPN license or RN license must pay, in addition to the application fee, the ((RN UW online access fee (HEAL-WA), and the nursing center surcharge fee when applying for a license. Licenses for registered nurse must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2. Registered nurses must pay the renewal fee, the HEAL-WA fee, and the nursing center surcharge fee when renewing licenses.
(3) Licenses for)) University of Washington (UW) health sciences online library access (HEAL-WA) surcharge and the central nursing resource center (CNRC) surcharge, as required in RCW 43.70.110.
(3) An advanced registered nurse ((must be renewed)) practitioner (ARNP) must renew his or her license every two years on the ((practitioner's)) licensee's birthday ((as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2)). An ARNP must also hold a valid RN license and pay all associated fees every year on the licensee's birthday.
(4) ((Registrations for)) A nursing technician((s)) must ((be renewed)) renew his or her registration every year on the practitioner's birthday ((as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2)). The renewal must be accompanied by an attestation as ((described)) required in RCW 18.79.370((. This attestation will)) that includes the nursing technician's anticipated graduation date. If the anticipated graduation date is within one year, the registration will expire thirty days after the anticipated graduation date. The expiration date may be extended to sixty days after graduation if the nursing technician can show good cause as defined in WAC 246-840-010(15).
(5) ((The following nonrefundable fees shall be charged by the health professions quality assurance division of the department of health. Persons who hold an RN and an LPN license shall be charged separate fees for each license. Persons who are licensed as an advanced registered nurse practitioner in more than one specialty will be charged a fee for each specialty:
RN/LPN fees:
Title of Fee
Fee
RN application (initial or endorsement)
$67.00
LPN application (initial or endorsement)
67.00
RN license renewal
76.00
RN renewal retired active
45.00
RN late renewal retired active
23.00
LPN license renewal
75.00
LPN renewal retired active
45.00
LPN late renewal retired active
23.00
LPN HEAL-WA* surcharge - Initial license and renewal
16.00
Late renewal penalty
50.00
Expired license reissuance
70.00
Inactive renewal
40.00
Expired inactive license reissuance
40.00
Inactive late renewal penalty
30.00
Duplicate license
20.00
Verification of licensure/education (written)
25.00
Nursing center surcharge
5.00
RN HEAL-WA* surcharge - Initial license and renewal
16.00
Advanced registered nurse fees:
Title of Fee
Fee
ARNP application with or without prescriptive authority (per specialty)
$92.00
ARNP renewal with or without prescriptive authority (per specialty)
96.00
ARNP late renewal penalty (per specialty)
50.00
ARNP duplicate license (per specialty)
20.00
ARNP written verification of license
(per specialty)
25.00
Nurse technologist fees:
Title of Fee
Fee
Application fee registration
$92.00
Renewal of registration
91.00
Duplicate registration
15.00
Registration late renewal penalty
50.00
*
HEAL-WA is the University of Washington health sciences online library. (See RCW 43.70.110.)))
A practitioner who holds more than one credential will be charged separate fees for each credential, in compliance with chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2 and RCW 43.70.110.
(6) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:
Application Fees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered
Nurse
Licensed
Practical
Nurse
Advanced
Registered Nurse
Practitioner1
Nursing
Technician
Application Fee
99
 
64
 
125
 
25
 
HEAL-WA Surcharge
16
 
16
 
0
 
0
 
CNRC Surcharge
5
 
5
 
0
 
0
 
Total
120
 
85
 
125
 
25
 
1Pays a $125 application fee per specialty license. If not currently a licensed RN, must also pay RN application fees.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On Time Renewal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered
Nurse
Licensed
Practical
Nurse
Advanced
Registered Nurse
Practitioner2
Nursing
Technician
Renewal Fee
99
 
64
 
125
 
25
 
HEAL-WA Surcharge
16
 
16
 
0
 
0
 
CNRC Surcharge
5
 
5
 
0
 
0
 
Total
120
 
85
 
125
 
25
 
2Pays a $125 renewal fee per specialty license once every 2 years. Must also renew RN license every year.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Late Renewal - Up to One Year Past the Expiration
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered
Nurse
Licensed
Practical
Nurse
Advanced
Registered Nurse
Practitioner3
Nursing
Technician
Renewal Fee
99
 
64
 
125
 
25
 
HEAL-WA Surcharge
16
 
16
 
0
 
0
 
CNRC Surcharge
5
 
5
 
0
 
0
 
Late Renewal Penalty
50
 
50
 
50
 
25
 
Total
170
 
135
 
175
 
50
 
3Pays $50 per specialty license in late fees.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Late Renewal - One Year or More Expired
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered
Nurse
Licensed
Practical
Nurse
Advanced
Registered Nurse
Practitioner
 
 
Renewal Fee
99
 
64
 
125
 
 
 
HEAL-WA Surcharge
16
 
16
 
0
 
 
 
CNRC Surcharge
5
 
5
 
0
 
 
 
Late Renewal Penalty
50
 
50
 
50
 
 
 
Expired Licenses Reissuance
70
 
70
 
0
 
 
 
Total
240
 
205
 
175
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retired Active Renewal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered
Nurse
Licensed
Practical
Nurse
 
 
 
 
Renewal Fee
44
 
44
 
 
 
 
 
HEAL-WA Surcharge
16
 
16
 
 
 
 
 
CNRC Surcharge
5
 
5
 
 
 
 
 
Total
65
 
65
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retired Active RenewalLate Renewal - Up to One Year Past the Expiration
 
 
Registered
Nurse
Licensed
Practical
Nurse
 
 
 
 
Renewal Fee
44
 
44
 
 
 
 
 
HEAL-WA Surcharge
16
 
16
 
 
 
 
 
CNRC Surcharge
5
 
5
 
 
 
 
 
Late Renewal Penalty
45
 
45
 
 
 
 
 
Total
110
 
110
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retired Active RenewalLate Renewal - One Year or More Expired
 
 
 
 
Registered
Nurse
Licensed
Practical
Nurse
 
 
 
 
Renewal Fee
44
 
44
 
 
 
 
 
HEAL-WA Surcharge
16
 
16
 
 
 
 
 
CNRC Surcharge
5
 
5
 
 
 
 
 
Late Renewal Penalty
45
 
45
 
 
 
 
 
Expired License Reissuance
70
 
70
 
 
 
 
 
Total
180
 
180
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inactive License Renewal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered
Nurse
Licensed
Practical
Nurse
Advanced
Registered Nurse
Practitioner
 
 
Renewal Fee
44
 
44
 
40
 
 
 
HEAL-WA Surcharge
16
 
16
 
0
 
 
 
CNRC Surcharge
5
 
5
 
0
 
 
 
Total
65
 
65
 
40
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inactive License RenewalLate Renewal - Up to One Year Past the Expiration
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered
Nurse
Licensed
Practical
Nurse
Advanced
Registered Nurse
Practitioner
 
 
Renewal Fee
44
 
44
 
40
 
 
 
HEAL-WA Surcharge
16
 
16
 
0
 
 
 
CNRC Surcharge
5
 
5
 
0
 
 
 
Late Renewal Penalty
45
 
45
 
40
 
 
 
Total
110
 
110
 
80
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inactive License RenewalLate Renewal - One Year or More Expired
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered
Nurse
Licensed
Practical
Nurse
Advanced
Registered Nurse
Practitioner
 
 
Renewal Fee
44
 
44
 
40
 
 
 
HEAL-WA Surcharge
16
 
16
 
0
 
 
 
CNRC Surcharge
5
 
5
 
0
 
 
 
Late Renewal Penalty
45
 
45
 
40
 
 
 
Expired License Reissuance
40
 
40
 
40
 
 
 
Total
150
 
150
 
120
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other fees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered
Nurse
Licensed
Practical
Nurse
Advanced
Registered Nurse
Practitioner
Nursing
Technician
Duplicate licensee or registration
20
 
20
 
20
 
15
 
Verification of licensure
25
 
25
 
25
 
25