WSR 14-01-085

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed December 17, 2013, 8:29 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-817-770 General anesthesia and deep sedation, the dental quality assurance commission (commission) is considering changing monitoring requirements when dentists administer general anesthesia or deep sedation.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.32.640 and 18.32.0365.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: WAC 246-817-770 requires that licensed dentists obtain an authorizing permit in order to administer general anesthesia or deep sedation. It requires specific training and lists procedures, equipment, recordkeeping, and medications for administration of general anesthesia. A change in carbon dioxide (CO2) level is the first indication there may be a problem with a patient under general anesthesia. As of January 2014, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons will require CO2 monitoring for its members. The commission is considering changes to monitoring requirements to ensure patient safety and to remain consistent with the recognized standard of care.

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. Interested parties may sign up for the commission's listserv at http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=dental-qac&A=1. Notices will be e-mailed through the commission's listserv to its interested parties list. Stakeholders will be invited to participate in open public commission meetings and commission designated committee meetings where rule drafting will occur. Department of Health, Dental Quality Assurance Commission, Jennifer Santiago, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 236-4893, jennifer.santiago@doh.wa.gov.

December 17, 2013

Blake T. Maresh

Executive Director