Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-933-060 Patient abandonment, facilities and practice management standards including WAC 246-933-310 Definitions, 246-933-320 General requirements for all veterinary medical facilities, 246-933-330 Minimum physical facilities, and 246-933-340 Practice management.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.92.030.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: WAC 246-933-060 allows the veterinarian to accept or reject a patient, but there is no provision for terminating patient care. The purpose of the review is to determine whether there is a need to clarify when, and under what circumstances patient care can be terminated. Facilities and practice management standards include WAC 246-933-310 Definitions, 246-933-320 General requirements for all veterinary medical facilities, 246-933-330 Minimum physical facilities, and 246-933-340 Practice management. These facilities and practice management rules will be analyzed and amended to address unclear, inaccurate or outdated language.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

     Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Judy Haenke, Program Manager, Veterinary Board of Governors, P.O. Box 47868, Olympia, WA 98504-7868, judy.haenke@doh.wa.gov, (360) 236-4947, or fax (360) 586-4359.

December 20, 2005

Steven Saxe

Executive Director