HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESB 5206
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 House Committee On:
Health Care & Wellness
Title: An act relating to increasing the health professions participating in online access to the University of Washington health sciences library.
Brief Description: Increasing the health professions participating in online access to the University of Washington health sciences library.
Sponsors: Senators Becker, Keiser, Schlicher, Parlette and Conway.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care & Wellness: 3/14/13, 3/26/13 [DPA].
Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill (As Amended by Committee) |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS |
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 16 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Jinkins, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Angel, Clibborn, Green, Harris, Manweller, Moeller, Morrell, Riccelli, Rodne, Ross, Short, Tharinger and Van De Wege.
Staff: Caitlin Forsyth (786-5793) and Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
The Department of Health (DOH) must charge fees to professionals licensed by the DOH and the health professions boards and commissions. The fees must be based on the cost to the agency for the licensure of the activity or class of activities.
In 2007 a fee surcharge of up to $25 was added to license fees for certain health professionals to pay for online access to selected clinical resources through the University of Washington Health Sciences Library. Beginning January 1, 2009, these licensees were given access to HEAL-WA, the Health Evidence Resource for Washington State. The HEAL-WA contains clinical resources such as medical journals, electronic textbooks, decision support tools, and evidence-based reviews of procedures, drugs, and devices. As of February 2013 more than 19,400 licensed healthcare providers are registered HEAL-WA users.
The online access fee surcharge is charged to the license fee of physicians and osteopathic physicians, physician assistants, naturopaths, podiatrists, chiropractors, psychologists, registered nurses, optometrists, mental health counselors, massage therapists, clinical social workers, midwives, marriage and family therapists, and East Asian medicine practitioners.
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Summary of Amended Bill:
Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, dietitians, nutritionists, speech-language pathologists, and licensed practical nurses are added to the list of health professionals whose license fee is increased by up to $25 for online access to selected clinical resources at the University of Washington Health Sciences Library.
Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Bill:
The amended bill adds licensed practical nurses to the list of health professionals who pay the online resources surcharge. The authorization for any health care providers to pay the surcharge to access the online resources of the University of Washington's Health Sciences Library is removed.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This bill will give occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants an efficient and cost-effective way to access clinical resources and stay apprised of recent research. The $16 licensure fee is a bargain; it usually costs $30 to access just one journal.
(Opposed) The House of Representatives version of this bill is preferred to the Senate version because the opt-in version in the Senate bill is problematic. The HEAL-WA relies on having a predictable number of users because HEAL-WA uses that number to negotiate favorable prices for the resources. Because individual members will opt-in, instead of entire fields of health professionals, HEAL-WA will not be able to obtain resources targeted towards the opt-in individuals. The HEAL-WA will not be financially sustainable if individuals are allowed to opt-in to access.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Senator Becker, prime sponsor; Kathy Stewart, Washington Occupational Therapy Association; Scott Sigmon, Washington Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; and Melissa Johnson, Washington Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
(Opposed) Tania Bardyn, University of Washington.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.