PROPOSED RULES
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
$(( |
(( |
[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 $(( |
(( |
[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.]