PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
(Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: This proposal considers the COMSPEX-USA as an acceptable examination to meet the board's requirement of an examination in osteopathic practices and principles and fulfill the need to test osteopathic physicians who may have competency issues.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.57.080, 18.57.005, 18.130.050.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The osteopathic statute requires that all applicants be examined in osteopathic practices and principles. Previously there has not been a standardized national test to meet this need. The board may also require a competency examination as part of a disciplinary sanction and this examination would be able to provide that type of evaluation.
Process for Developing New Rule: Information relative to the examination provided by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. Collaborative rule-making with interested parties will be accomplished by accepting written input or at board meetings where the issue will [be] discussed.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Arlene Robertson, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47870, Olympia, WA 98504-7870, phone (360) 236-4945, fax (360) 586-0745.
The public and licensees may submit written comments or attend regular board meetings that this issue is on the agenda for discussion.
March 18, 1999
Robert J. Nicoloff
Executive Director