CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2492

Chapter 159, Laws of 2014

63rd Legislature
2014 Regular Session



CIVIL LIABILITY--IMMUNITY--EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS



EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/12/14

Passed by the House February 13, 2014
  Yeas 93   Nays 5

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


Passed by the Senate March 6, 2014
  Yeas 49   Nays 0


BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
 
CERTIFICATE

I, Barbara Baker, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2492 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.


BARBARA BAKER
________________________________________    
Chief Clerk
Approved March 31, 2014, 2:54 p.m.








JAY INSLEE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington
 
FILED
March 31, 2014







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2492
_____________________________________________

Passed Legislature - 2014 Regular Session
State of Washington63rd Legislature2014 Regular Session

By House Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Rodne, Jinkins, Morrell, and Tharinger)

READ FIRST TIME 02/05/14.   



     AN ACT Relating to liability of health care providers responding to an emergency; and adding a new section to chapter 4.24 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 4.24 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, any health care provider credentialing or granting practice privileges to other health care providers to deliver health care in response to an emergency is immune from civil liability arising out of such credentialing or granting of practice privileges if: (a) The health care provider so credentialed or granted practice privileges was responding to an emergency; and (b) the procedures utilized for credentialing and granting practice privileges were substantially consistent with the standards for granting emergency practice privileges adopted by the joint commission on the accreditation of health care organizations.
     (2) This section does not apply to any acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
     (3) For purposes of this section:
     (a) "Ambulatory surgical facility" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 70.230.010.
     (b) "Clinic" means a place for treatment of patients on an outpatient basis by a health care provider.
     (c) "Credentialing" means the collection, verification, and assessment of whether a health care provider meets relevant licensing, education, and training requirements.
     (d) "Emergency" means an event or set of circumstances for which the governor has proclaimed a state of emergency pursuant to RCW 43.06.010.
     (e) "Health care provider" means:
     (i) A member of a profession identified in RCW 7.70.020(1);
     (ii) An employee or agent of a member of such a profession acting in the course and scope of his or her employment;
     (iii) An entity, whether or not incorporated, facility, or institution employing, credentialing, or providing practice privileges to one or more persons described in (e)(i) of this subsection including, but not limited to, a hospital, ambulatory surgical facility, clinic, health maintenance organization, or nursing home, or an officer, director, employee, or agent thereof acting in the course and scope of his or her employment;
     (iv) A pharmacist or pharmacy as defined in RCW 18.64.011; or
     (v) In the event any person identified in (e)(i) through (iv) of this subsection is deceased, his or her estate or personal representative.
     (f) "Health maintenance organization" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 48.46.020.
     (g) "Hospital" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 70.41.020.
     (h) "Nursing home" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 18.51.010.


         Passed by the House February 13, 2014.
         Passed by the Senate March 6, 2014.
         Approved by the Governor March 31, 2014.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 31, 2014.