WSR 06-07-007

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH


[ Filed March 3, 2006, 7:32 a.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Exempt from preproposal statement of inquiry under RCW 34.05.310(4).

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 246-919-990 Physician and surgeon fees and renewal cycle (physicians surcharge fees) and 246-918-990 Fees and renewal cycle (physician assistants surcharge fees).

     Hearing Location(s): Department of Health, 101 Israel Road S.E., Room 133, Tumwater, WA 98504, on April 26, 2006, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: April 26, 2006.

     Submit Written Comments to: Beverly A. Thomas, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47866, Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail [web site] http://www3.doh.wa.gov/policyreview/, fax (360) 236-4768, by April 1, 2006.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Beverly Thomas, Program Manager, by April 19, 2006, TTY (800) 833-6388 or 711 or (360) 236-4788.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Due to an increase in workload, the Washington physicians health program (WPHP) has requested an increase in the impaired physician program fee paid by the department of health (department) to WPHP. The department conducted an analysis of WPHP's fees, staffing, caseload, program costs, and productivity. The department determined that an increase to the impaired physician program fee is necessary to continue to make payments out of the fund for the duration of the contract, which expires on June 30, 2009. The department is proposing amending the rule to raise the impaired physician program fee to $35.00 per year. The statute governing the impaired physicians program fee allows licensees to be charged up to $35.00 per year.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed fee increase will provide additional funding for the impaired physician program, allowing the continuation of treatment and monitoring for the duration of the contract.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.70.250 and 18.71.310(2).

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 18.71.310(2).

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Department of health, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Beverly A. Thomas, 310 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 236-4788.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The department did not conduct a small business economic analysis under RCW 19.85.025(3), because the rule does not qualify for a small business economic impact statement under RCW 34.05.310 (4)(f). The rule adjusts fees pursuant to legislative standards.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The department did not conduct the analysis under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vi), because the proposal adjusts fees pursuant to legislative standards.

March 2, 2006

M. C. Selecky

Secretary

OTS-8601.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 05-12-012, filed 5/20/05, effective 7/1/05)

WAC 246-919-990   Physician and surgeon fees and renewal cycle.   (1) Licenses must be renewed every two years on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2, except postgraduate training limited licenses and retired active physician licenses. The secretary may require payment of renewal fees less than those established in this section if the current level of fees is likely to result in a surplus of funds. Surplus funds are those in excess of the amount necessary to pay for the costs of administering the program and to maintain a reasonable reserve. Notice of any adjustment in the required payment will be provided to practitioners. The adjustment in the required payment shall remain in place for the duration of a renewal cycle to assure practitioners an equal benefit from the adjustment.

     (2) Postgraduate training limited licenses must be renewed every year to correspond to program date. The secretary may require payment of renewal fees less than those established in this section if the current level of fees is likely to result in a surplus of funds. Surplus funds are those in excess of the amount necessary to pay for the costs of administering the program and to maintain a reasonable reserve. Notice of any adjustment in the required payment will be provided to practitioners. The adjustment in the required payment shall remain in place for the duration of a renewal cycle to assure practitioners an equal benefit from the adjustment.

     (3) Retired active physician licenses shall be renewed every year. The secretary may require payment of renewal fees less than those established in this section if the current level of fees is likely to result in a surplus of funds. Surplus funds are those in excess of the amount necessary to pay for the costs of administering the program and to maintain a reasonable reserve. Notice of any adjustment in the required payment will be provided to practitioners. The adjustment in the required payment shall remain in place for the duration of a renewal cycle to assure practitioners an equal benefit from the adjustment.

     (4) The applicants and licensees must pay the following nonrefundable fees:

Title of Fee Fee
Physicians and surgeons: Chapter 18.71 RCW
     Application* $300.00
     Retired active physician license renewal* 100.00
     Retired active late renewal penalty 50.00
     Two-year renewal* 400.00
     Late renewal penalty 100.00
     Expired license reissuance 200.00
     Certification of license 50.00
     Duplicate license 15.00
     Temporary permit 50.00
     Application fee for transitioning from a postgraduate training limited license* 100.00
Postgraduate limited license fees: RCW 18.71.095
     Limited license application* 200.00
     Limited license renewal* 200.00
     Limited duplicate license 15.00
Impaired physician program *(assessed at $((25.00)) 35.00 on each application and for each year of the renewal period as required in RCW 18.71.310(2)) ((25.00)) 35.00

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.250, [43.70.]280 and 43.70.110. 05-12-012, § 246-919-990, filed 5/20/05, effective 7/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.71A.020 and 43.70.280. 02-05-009, § 246-919-990, filed 2/8/02, effective 3/11/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.130.050(1), 18.130.040(4), 18.130.050(12) and 18.130.340. 99-23-090, § 246-919-990, filed 11/16/99, effective 1/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. 98-05-060, § 246-919-990, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 43.70.250. 97-15-100, § 246-919-990, filed 7/21/97, effective 8/21/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. 96-03-073, § 246-919-990, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96.]

OTS-8600.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 05-12-012, filed 5/20/05, effective 7/1/05)

WAC 246-918-990   Physician assistants fees and renewal cycle.   (1) Licenses must be renewed every two years on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2. The secretary may require payment of renewal fees less than those established in this section if the current level of fees is likely to result in a surplus of funds. Surplus funds are those in excess of the amount necessary to pay for the costs of administering the program and to maintain a reasonable reserve. Notice of any adjustment in the required payment will be provided to practitioners. The adjustment in the required payment shall remain in place for the duration of a renewal cycle to assure practitioners an equal benefit from the adjustment.

     (2) The applicant or licensee must pay the following nonrefundable fees:


Title of Fee Fee
Physician assistants, certified physician assistants, physician assistant-surgical assistants, acupuncture physician assistants:
Application* $50.00
Two-year renewal* 70.00
Expired license reissuance 35.00
Duplicate license 15.00
Impaired physician program surcharge *(assessed at $((25.00)) 35.00 on each application and for each year of the renewal period as required in RCW 18.71.310(2)) ((25.00)) 35.00

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.250, [43.70.]280 and 43.70.110. 05-12-012, § 246-918-990, filed 5/20/05, effective 7/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.71A.020 and 43.70.280. 02-05-009, § 246-918-990, filed 2/8/02, effective 3/11/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.130.050(1), 18.130.040(4), 18.130.050(12) and 18.130.340. 99-23-090, § 246-918-990, filed 11/16/99, effective 1/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020(3). 99-13-087, § 246-918-990, filed 6/14/99, effective 7/15/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. 98-05-060, § 246-918-990, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. 96-03-073, § 246-918-990, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-06-027 (Order 131), § 246-918-990, filed 2/26/91, effective 3/29/91.]

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