SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1183

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Health & Long-Term Care, March 21, 2011

Title: An act relating to increasing the number of primary health care providers in Washington.

Brief Description: Regarding certain osteopathic or allopathic medical schools prohibiting hospitals or physicians from entering into agreements to provide clinical rotations to qualified osteopathic or allopathic medical students.

Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Johnson, Cody, Ross, Kenney, Warnick, Maxwell, Schmick, Taylor, Hope, Haler, Goodman, Hinkle, Dickerson, McCune, Rodne, Armstrong, Ryu, Seaquist, Pedersen, Liias, Eddy, Appleton, Klippert, Kretz, Hasegawa, Fagan, Asay, Chandler, Angel, Ahern and Stanford).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/22/11, 94-0.

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 3/17/11, 3/21/11 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Conway, Vice Chair; Becker, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell, Kline, Murray, Parlette and Pflug.

Staff: Rhoda Donkin (786-7465)

Background: The Medical Quality Assurance Commission (Commission) establishes standards for the issuance of licenses to physicians and surgeons, while the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (Board) establishes standards for osteopathic physicians and surgeons. The general standards for both professions require (1) graduation from an approved medical school; (2) completion of a residency or other postgraduate training program; (3) a work history since graduation; (4) a verification of all admitting or specialty hospital privileges granted within five years of application; and (5) a verification of all states where the applicant is credentialed.

To meet the Commission's postgraduate training requirement, the applicant for a physician or surgeon's license must have completed a two-year program accredited by either the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. To meet the Board's postgraduate training requirement, the applicant for an osteopathic physician or surgeon's license must have completed either a nationally approved one-year internship or the first year of a residency program approved by the American Osteopathic Association of the American Medical Association.

Summary of Bill: Entities that receive state funds may not prohibit a hospital or physician from entering into an agreement to provide student clinical rotations to qualified osteopathic or allopathic medical students.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This is an issue of equal access for all medical students. It is important for all members of the medical training community to figure out how to expand capacity as we train more primary care physicians. With this bill, good communication is already happening.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Johnson, prime sponsor; Dr. Bob Sutton, Whitney Fix-Lanes; Michael Romen, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences; Jackie Der, UW School of Medicine.