PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
(Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: To establish approved schools of osteopathic medicine.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.57.005, 18.57.020.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: State osteopathic boards have encountered applicants from foreign schools of osteopathy applying for licensure. Since some foreign schools are not equivalent to those in the United States, it is necessary to clarify which schools of osteopathic medicine are considered equivalent and approved by the board.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making is being accomplished by obtaining information from other state boards who have experienced problems pertaining to this issue, recommendations have been received from national professional organizations and the Washington Osteopathic Medical Association. Interested parties will be mailed information and given an opportunity to provide input in writing or by attending board meetings at which the issue will be reviewed.
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, Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, 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 is on the agenda for discussion.
March 18, 1999
Robert J. Nicoloff
Executive Director